Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
199. 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. [6079/26]
View answerAt the outset, I want to convey my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the young girl who was killed in a collision involving a scrambler last weekend. The incident is being investigated by An Garda Síochána.
It is important to say that Gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat antisocial and dangerous use of scramblers and e-scooters. In June 2023, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law. The Act, which is under the Minister for Transport, included provisions that aim to tackle the anti-social use of vehicles including e-scooters and scramblers through measures such as granting An Garda Síochána new powers of seizure. The Act also makes dangerous driving an offence in any location, not just on public roads.
Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.
I can assure the Deputy that Gardaí respond to reports of anti-social behaviour and conduct operations on a continuous basis, targeting people engaged in anti-social activities involving the misuse of scramblers and similar vehicles, and electric motorbikes and e-scooters in public places. These initiatives are supported by campaigns across various media and social media platforms to highlight the dangers connected with the use of these vehicles.
In dealing with this dangerous behaviour, An Garda Síochána also gather intelligence at a local level and targets these areas. Such operations focus on the illegal use of these types of vehicles and involve all Gardaí assigned to operational duties. I am also informed by Garda authorities that there were 958 Fixed Charge Notices issued for E-scooter related offences in 2025 and that there were 817 e-scooters seized or detained in 2025.
Additionally, the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024 limit the maximum speed of an e-scooter to 20 km/hr, provide for regulation of safety equipment for their operation and prohibit their use on footpaths and by anyone under 16 years of age. On this important point, I urge parents not to purchase e-scooters for their children, or to allow their children to operate these vehicles.
Operation Meacan is another part of An Garda Síochána's proactive response to this issue, targeting the use of electric vehicles that are being used for criminal activity across the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
