Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
624. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of e-scooters tests that have been completed in the Dublin metropolitan region, the number of seizures in this region, and the number of testing units available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37252/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraE-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 (including batteries).
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.
While data on the number of completed tests is not centrally maintained, I am further advised that seizures of e-scooters are actively taking place across the country as part of ongoing enforcement operations.
The use of these testing units is currently under evaluation. Garda management will consider broader deployment, and the development of a centralised data collection process, should the pilot phase be expanded.
Seizure figures for the DMR between 1 June 2024 and 30 June 2025 are outlined below.
|
Division |
Count |
|
DMR Eastern |
<10 |
|
DMR North Central |
83 |
|
DMR Northern |
17 |
|
DMR South Central |
110 |
|
DMR Southern |
48 |
|
DMR Western |
46 |
These figures are based on operational data extracted from the PULSE system as of 7 July 2025 and may be subject to future revision.
