Taoiseach says he is 'leaning towards' e-scooter ban amid safety concerns

Government is examining tighter regulations after concerns over public safety, criminal activity and serious injuries involving e-scooters

Micheál Martin said gardaí had seized about 2,000 e-scooters and 418 scramblers since 2024. File picture

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is "leaning towards" a ban on e-scooters as the Dáil heard concerns about gangs using e-scooters and scramblers to wreak "havoc" across the country.

Mr Martin said people are "fed up" with scramblers on public roads and that the Government is determined to do "everything we can to rid scramblers from public places".

The Taoiseach was responding to Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who highlighted the case of 14-year-old Jayden Deans, who was seriously injured after being struck by a scrambler late last month.

Ms McDonald said that since the introduction of Grace's Law, which banned scramblers from public roads following the death of Grace Lynch, the problem involving scramblers and e-scooters had "gotten worse".

“People in the north inner city of Dublin and beyond, across our suburbs, in Finglas, in Cabra, all across the country, are sick to the back teeth of gangs on high-speed e-scooters and scramblers, literally bringing havoc and real danger to our neighborhoods,” Ms McDonald said.

“They speed through our communities with absolutely no regard for anybody's safety, not to mind the law.”

The Sinn Féin leader said the vehicles were also being used to deliver drugs, adding that those riding them were involved in "open intimidation" and were causing fear within neighbourhoods.

In response, Mr Martin said gardaí had seized about 2,000 e-scooters and 418 scramblers since 2024.

He added that work was under way within the Department of Transport to examine further restrictions on e-scooters, including the possibility of an outright ban.

Referring to work being led by minister of state Sean Canney on additional regulations or a ban, Mr Martin said he was "leaning towards" prohibiting e-scooters.

The Taoiseach also said gardaí would be given additional protections in cases where they pursue people using e-scooters.

He said health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill would receive a report from Children's Health Ireland (CHI) on e-scooter-related injuries involving children.

Last week, the Oireachtas Transport Committee heard that six children had been admitted to intensive care at CHI Temple Street with traumatic brain injuries following e-scooter accidents.

Mr Martin said the CHI report would be of "profound consequence" in assessing the impact of e-scooters.