The Government today has released the following statement on the ban of e-scooters not leaving a total ban off the table they have outlined new steps going forward but is it enough? Heavy regulation is great but what about enforcement.
In a ban everything era there is the not mcuh talk about enforcement in Ireland and we already have argements about under 18s driving cars but not allowed use e-scooter which is a rediculous arguement to begin with, you can hack an e-scooter or e-bike and you do not need a test, as this stands alone you can still get someone else in to buy you an e-scooter and off you go.
On the car arguement you learn it costs you money you do a theory test you have to do lessons then after this you need to do a test and then you can legally drive this is not the same as an e-scooter that can in fact be hacked to reach much higher speeds and again nothing done about it.
This of course has casued outrage in the Dublin Commutter coalition which like cyclists are self entilted individuals that want it all, cry for cycle lanes and do not use them get streets closed for nothing and distrupt buinsesses.
I cylce I own a bike I own a car I own an e-scooter and use them all within their limits and to the rules of the road but these people will still say they are safe until something happens to one of their own and deny there is any issues over th elast few years with e-bike -escooter users being a menace especially food delivery users which again you cant deny the constant red light breaking weaving in and out of traffic we all see on a daily basis but again they will say it is their right.
What is in store then – a phased approach
High-viz jackets and helmets will be mandatory for all e-scooter use. this should have been the case already same for cyclists and especially when the dark evenings and mornings come in but not will be igonred no lights no refectors no nothing no enforement.
The ban on sales to the under 16s will be extended to under 18s. This will take effect in August. This sovles nothing anyone can till walk in a buy one for them..
Legislation will be introduced to treat e-scooters as mechanically-propelled vehicles. This should have been the case already we all know they can be hacked and already hit speeds of said mechanically propelled vehicles.
Statement from Government
Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister Canney agreed on a series of proposals with Minister O’Callaghan and the Garda Commissioner. The proposals will be brought to Government by Ministers O’Brien and Canney next week.
The Garda Commissioner advised that there has been a significant increase in Garda operations connected to e-scooters, including that 1,412 e-scooters have been seized so far this year. There have been 793 prosecutions for possession of e-scooters this year.
The meeting also discussed the initial data from Children’s Health Ireland and the HSE indicating a concerning pattern of serious and life-changing injuries caused by e-scooters.
More than one-third of all paediatric traumatic brain injury admissions to CHI at Temple Street in 2026 were related to e-scooters. Admissions for traumatic brain injuries from e-scooter accidents increased by 50% in the last 12 months.
While CHI estimates one to two children a day are presenting across EDs this summer with e-scooter injuries. A full report will be available at the end of July.
It was agreed that high-visibility jackets and helmets will be mandatory for all e-scooter use, and the ban will be extended to under-18s. This will take effect in August.
Later this year, legislation will be introduced to treat e-scooters as all other mechanically propelled vehicles, and there will be a requirement for licensing and registration.
This will also prohibit the sale of scooters to minors and the sale of scooters that do not meet the legal requirements for use on public roads.
An outright ban will remain on the table.
It was also agreed further protections will be provided to members of An Garda Síochána to mirror the system in the UK. This would grant greater legal protections to gardaí when pursuing e-scooters and e-bikes.