Plan to tighten rules on e-scooters
The Government has said that an outright ban on e-scooters remains “on the table” after a meeting of ministers on the issue today (20 July).
A statement after the meeting said that a series of proposals had been agreed with the Garda Commissioner and would come before Government next week.
Legislation will be introduced later this year to treat e-scooters in the same way as all other mechanically propelled vehicles, with a requirement for licensing and registration.
Jackets and helmets
The Government said that the proposed legislation would also ban the sale of scooters to minors and the sale of scooters that did not meet the legal requirements for use on public roads.
It added that high-visibility jackets and helmets would become mandatory for all e-scooter use in August, when a ban on under-18s using the vehicles would also come into effect. The current ban applies to those under 16.
Ministers also agreed that greater legal protections would be provided to gardaí pursuing e-scooters and e-bikes.
‘Concerning pattern’ of injuries
The Garda Commissioner told ministers that 1,412 e-scooters had been seized so far this year, with 793 prosecutions for possession of e-scooters.
The meeting also discussed initial data from Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE indicating what the Government described as “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 Temple Street in 2026 were related to e-scooters, according to the CHI figures.