Minimum age for e-scooters to rise to 18
The Government has approved new regulations that will increase the minimum age for using e-scooters to 18.
The new rules will also make helmets and high-visibility clothing mandatory for e-scooter users and increase fixed-charge notices for all e-scooter offences to €100.
Fees for the release of detained e-scooters will be doubled to €80 for the first day and €30 for each subsequent day.
Further proposals
The Department of Transport said that it would engage further with the Department of Justice, gardaí, and other interested parties in the coming months to explore further proposals.
According to the department, these include vehicle registration, mandatory insurance, and the requirement to hold a valid driving licence or learner’s permit.
After a meeting last week, the Government had said that an outright ban on e-scooters remained “on the table”.
The department has also announced that it will now pause and review funding of public e-scooters schemes.
RSA changes
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State with responsibility for road safety Seán Canney also brought plans for changes at the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to Cabinet.
These include the introduction of a new Road Safety Ambassadors programme.
Ministers also backed the publication of the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2026, approved for drafting last year. which will give local authorities access to road-collision data from the RSA and gardaí.
‘Tragic fatalities’
The bill will also allow for the consideration of a charge of careless driving where a jury acquits a defendant of a charge of dangerous driving.
It also scraps the requirement to display a paper motor-tax disc.
“Today’s e-scooter measures respond to the growing number of serious injuries and tragic fatalities associated with their use and provide clear regulations to protect all road users,” said Minister O’Brien.
Canney described the package of measures as a framework for the responsible use of e-scooters, adding that he looked forward to progressing them “in the coming weeks”.