Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
858. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of scramblers seized by the Gardaí in each of the years from 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10325/26]
View answer859. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of scramblers that were returned to owners following seizure by Gardaí in each of the years from 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10326/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 858 and 859 together.
I am informed by Garda authorities that based on incidents of vehicles detained (including those detained under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act) as well as incidents of property seized on PULSE (where there was at least one linked vehicle that was either a scrambler or quad bike or both) the table below outlines incidents where a scrambler or quad bike was seized or detained by An Garda Síochána between 2023 and 2025.
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Incidents where scramblers were seized or detained* |
179 |
173 |
167 |
|
Incidents where quad bikes were seized or detained* |
44 |
41 |
40 |
*Figures are based on incidents occurring from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025, inclusive. All information is based upon operational data from the PULSE system and is liable to change. Multiple vehicles may have been seized at each incident so, therefore, the figures above correspond to the number of incidents in which a vehicle was seized rather than the number of vehicles seized.
Each seizure of a vehicle is individual and the subsequent disposal of any particular vehicle is dependent on the individual circumstances of the case.
Where legislation requires/provides that a scrambler be returned to the owner, that will be done subject to any costs being paid. Where a scrambler is not claimed by the owner, following expiry of any prescribed time limit, the scrambler can be disposed of either by way of sale or destruction.
Where a scrambler is detained as part of a wider criminal investigation, the length of the detention is subject to any evidential need of the investigation and any potential court order at the end of any proceedings.
