Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:54. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the current legal situation with respect to e-scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7743/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 February 2023
Ceisteanna (54)
Freagraí scríofa
Under current road traffic legislation, e-scooters are classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, the use of which requires tax, insurance and a driving licence. Since they do not fit into any existing licence category, it is not possible to tax or insure them and they may not currently be used on public roads or in public places. They may be used on private land with the landowner's permission.
The Programme for Government commits to legislating for e-scooters. The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which is before the Seanad, includes provisions for regulation of the use of e-scooters. The Bill defines a new category of vehicle in the Road Traffic Act, 1961, powered personal transporters or PPTs, which will include e-scooters. Establishing this new vehicle category will enable me to put regulations in place to govern the safe use of e-scooters. E-scooters which meet the criteria established in the Bill and subsequent regulations will become legal to use on their introduction.
While the passage of the Bill through the remaining legislative stages is subject to the Oireachtas, it is anticipated that the Bill will be enacted before the end of Quarter 1. Once the Bill has been enacted and the relevant sections commenced, formal drafting of the regulations can begin. However, the introduction of new technical regulations for vehicles is subject to mandatory examination by the European Commission for a minimum of 12 weeks, under the Single Market Transparency Directive (EU) 2015/1535 and relevant regulations would not be put in place until that process is completed.