Ciarán Ahern
Question:151. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport to report on his recent meeting with the Garda Commissioner on road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44753/26]
View answerThursday, 11 June 2026
Questions (151)
Written answers
I met with the Garda Commissioner on 4 June 2026. I requested this meeting to discuss:
• Road safety and An Garda Síochána (AGS) enforcement actions against anti-social behaviour on our streets and roads.
• AGS plans to increase enforcement against dangerous driving of scramblers and of the prohibition of scrambler use in public places.
The meeting was informed by recent developments and the latest information available, including the number of fatalities on our roads and new road traffic regulations.
On 1 April the Road Traffic (Control of Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2026, known as Grace's Law in memory of Grace Lynch, were signed into law. The regulations implement an explicit ban on scrambler use in any public place and strengthen existing provisions and powers of enforcement by An Garda Síochána.
The meeting facilitated constructive engagement on road safety issues and in particular the growing concern surrounding the illegal and dangerous use of scrambler bikes in communities and across the country. The misuse of these vehicles presents a serious danger to the public. Communities are increasingly affected by reckless driving, danger to public areas and significant risk to pedestrians, cyclist and motorists.
I reaffirmed the Government's commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána in addressing this issue through strengthened regulations and enhanced powers of seizure of these vehicles. The new regulations complete the introduction of provisions in the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 to tackle the dangerous use of scramblers and bring additional legal clarity by consolidating the disparate existing provisions into a single legislative instrument in respect of scramblers.
The regulations prohibit the use of an off-road motorcycle, such as a scrambler or a quadbike, in any place, except on private land with the written consent of the landowner or use by the landowner. They impose a requirement of consent where restricted vehicles are used on private land and will make enforcement easier.
The mere use of scramblers will now explicitly be an offence, assisting An Garda Síochána operationally by ensuring that members will no longer have to form a reasonable belief about dangerous use.
Road safety remains a central priority for Government and I am committed to progressing measures that improve enforcement capabilities and ensuring safer public spaces for everyone. My Department, in consultation with the Department of Justice, is preparing further regulations to substantially increase the cost of releasing a scrambler following seizure, to reduce the number of seized vehicles that return to the road.
I continue to work closely with the Garda Commissioner and all relevant stakeholders on these matters.