Plans to ban scramblers on roads will be brought to Cabinet as early as next week

The 'Irish Examiner' understands the Taoiseach insisted that the regulations banning the use of scramblers on public roads, parks and places must be finalised 'urgently'. File photo

Plans to ban scramblers on public roads and in parks will be brought to Cabinet as early as next week.

Tánaiste Simon Harris also told the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday evening that the new rules will also see the immediate confiscation of scramblers and they will not be returned to their owners. 

The crackdown comes in the aftermath of the death of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch, aged 16, following a collision involving a scrambler last weekend.

Keith Lee, 18, of Park View Drive in Poppintree Park, Dublin, appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday accused of dangerous driving causing Ms Lynch’s death.

Tonight, gardaí confirmed that a man in his 20s had been arrested in connection with a separate dangerous driving incident involving a scrambler in Mulhuddart, Dublin today.

A spokesperson said Gardaí were on proactive patrol in a residential area when they saw a scrambler being driven dangerously.

Gardaí seized the vehicle under Section 109A Road Traffic Act 1961 and arrested the man. He has since been charged with road traffic offences and is due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court tomorrow.

Under legislation introduced in 2023, it is illegal to drive a scrambler dangerously in a public place. The legislation also gave gardaí authority to seize the vehicles.

However, part of the legislation that enables the transport minister to prohibit the use of certain vehicles in certain areas through a regulation was never enacted.

Sean Canney, junior minister with responsibility for road safety, told the Irish Examiner no one had told him part of road traffic legislation introduced in 2023 was yet to be implemented.

On Wednesday, the Taoiseach convened a meeting to discuss scrambler bikes, attended by Tánaiste Simon Harris, transport minister Darragh O’Brien, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan, junior transport minister Sean Canney, Attorney General Rossa Fanning and senior officials from the departments of justice and transport.

The Irish Examiner understands the Taoiseach insisted that the regulations banning the use of scramblers on public roads, parks and places must be finalised “urgently”.

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It was decided that the drafting of new regulations will be completed “as a matter of priority, and they will be brought to Cabinet in a matter of weeks". Stricter regulations will also be placed on e-scooters and e-bikes under the plans.

A spokesperson for Mr O’Brien vowed “this will be treated with absolute urgency and priority to support and further strengthen the additional powers that were given to the Gardaí under the 2023 act”.

Mr Canney told the Irish Examiner gardaí have the power to confiscate scramblers and are doing so.

However, he stressed the importance of the new plans, which will see them banned on public roads, public parks, and carparks.

When asked if he regretted that part of the Road Traffic Act had not been implemented, Mr Canney said he had not previously been told this.

“It was never brought to my attention that there was something that wasn't done in a bill that was brought in two years before that,” he said.

“I am concerned that it wasn't brought to my notice that there was some legislation that wasn't actually implemented, or that it wasn't enacted.

“That being the case, it was there. They were looking at it for a long time and trying to figure out different things on this.”

In the Dáil, Mr Martin said that if people on scramblers do not have insurance or a licence, “they are not meant to be on the road”.

Paying tribute to Grace Lynch, he said the Government “wants to make sure that something like this, in as far as possible, never happens again”. “It is far simpler if scramblers are taken off the public roads and not allowed on these roads,” the Taoiseach said.

“The law allows for that. I have consulted with the Attorney General. Despite the different discussions that are underway, the Attorney General is very clear. The 2023 Act allows for the banning of scramblers and quad bikes from public roads.

“I intend, with my colleagues, to proceed with that. That is going to happen.

“The minister for justice has met with the Garda Commissioner. He accepts that there needs to be an intensification of activity by An Garda Síochána in specific areas where this type of antisocial behaviour is a scourge, and particularly where scramblers are used on an ongoing basis.”