Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
573. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to ensure Gardaí have sufficient powers to tackle the misuse of E-scooters and scramblers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56652/25]
View answerLegislation and policy concerning road traffic and road safety rests under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing matters and is independent in these functions under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was enacted in June 2023 by the Minister for Transport. It is a large piece of legislation which covers multiple areas, including scrambler bikes and e-scooters.
Among its many provisions, the Act aims to tackle dangerous driving and the antisocial use of scramblers and quadbikes via three key measures:
• Under Section 5(k), dangerous driving has become an offence everywhere, not only in public places;
• Under Section 5(p), An Garda Síochána were granted new powers of seizure;
• Under Section 11(b), there is a new power to provide in regulations for the prohibition or restriction of the uses of classes of vehicles in particular places.
A commencement order was signed into law (S.I. No. 392/2023) giving effect to Sections 5(k), 5(p) and 11(b), empowering An Garda Síochána to seize a vehicle (including scramblers, quadbikes and motorbikes) being driven dangerously in any location.
The Department of Transport is in consultation with stakeholders in the context of preparing regulations under Section 11(b). It is important that these regulations have the desired effect, and that the correct vehicles, areas and territories are targeted.
E-scooters can be legally used on public roads only if they meet the technical and usage requirements for the category. The safety requirements for e-scooters in Ireland are governed by S.I. No. 199/2024 - Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024.
The requirements for an e-scooter to be used on public roads include that it must have a maximum design speed of 20 kilometres per hour or less, have a maximum continuous rated power output of 400 watts or less, and have a maximum net weight of 25 kilograms.
To enforce these regulations, Gardaí are deploying four testing units called dynamometers on a regional basis, with one unit assigned to each of the four Garda regions, including the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR). This initiative is at proof-of-concept stage so Gardaí are not in a position to report on the number of tests conducted until the pilot is complete.
Gardaí have, also, highlighted the dangers associated with the misuse of e-scooters through various media and social media platforms. In order to combat dangerous behaviour and the misuse of e-scooters and scramblers, intelligence is gathered at local level and areas are targeted as appropriate. Garda operations targeting the illegal use of those vehicles involve all members who are assigned to operational duties.
