Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2026
246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the number of scrambler bikes and quad bikes seized or detained by An Garda Síochána in each of the past three years, broken down by Garda division, including Cork City and Cork North divisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10816/26]
View answer247. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of scrambler bikes and quad bikes seized by An Garda Síochána in each of the past three years; and the average number of vehicles seized per incident. [10817/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.
Our road safety strategy takes a whole of government approach and is a shared responsibility. Development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy falls within the remit of my colleague Darragh O'Brien TD, the Minister for Transport, and the vital role of enforcing road traffic laws is carried out by An Garda Síochána.
Gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat the antisocial and dangerous misuse of scramblers, quad bikes and other such vehicles including under the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the Criminal Law Act 1997. I am assured that An Garda Síochána continues to adopt a proactive approach in addressing the illegal use of scramblers, quads.
This ongoing effort has been significantly bolstered by the enactment of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, which was signed into law in June 2023. The Act includes provisions to tackle the antisocial misuse of these vehicles through measures that grant An Garda Síochána new powers of seizure. In addition, under the Act dangerous driving became an offence in any location, not just on public roads.
The Act also provides for the prohibition or restriction of the use of classes of vehicles in particular places. In this regard Minister O'Brien has brought proposals to Cabinet to regulate for banning the use of scramblers in public places.
I am informed by the 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. A breakdown of the figures by Garda division is not available at this time.
