No outright ban on e-scooters as new measures announced

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Government has decided against an outright ban on e-scooters, but the age limit for their use will be raised to 18.

The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and senior ministers have instead agreed further restrictions on the use of the vehicles – and insisted that an outright ban is not off the table.

The Government agreed that hi-vis jackets and helmets will also be mandatory for all e-scooter use and the ban on their use will be extended to under-18s.

This will take effect in August.

Later this year, legislation will be introduced to treat e-scooters as 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”, the Government said.

It was also agreed that 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.

The proposals will be brought to Cabinet next week

At the meeting on Monday, the Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly advised 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 (CHI) 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.

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.