I have emphasised on a number of occasions that the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes is taken very seriously by the Government and I thank the Deputy for her continued interest in this serious public safety concern.
The Deputy will recall that, in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 9 May 2018, I noted the intention of officials in my Department to consult with local authorities in the context of the many examples of positive engagement fostered by local authorities with local communities, as a number of initiatives and projects are of potential interest insofar as the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes are concerned.
It was in this vein that my Department participated in the first meeting of a newly established taskforce, consisting of representatives of the Dublin local authorities, Gardaí working in these local authority areas, and professional motocross sports, on 21 June 2018. An invitation was also extended to local authorities from Meath and Wicklow to join this taskforce. At the taskforce meeting, the consensus was that a multi-pronged approach to tackling this issue is necessary, to include a consideration of enforcement measures, education and awareness-raising, relevant legislation, and the potential provision of designated facilities, where such vehicles could be used in a safe environment.
As I have previously stated, I am particularly interested in the benefits to be gained from the experiences of initiatives, such as those mentioned in the details supplied alongside the Deputy's question of 9 May 2018, which involve direct engagement between local authorities, An Garda Síochána and local communities. My officials will continue to engage with local authorities via the newly established taskforce, in order to learn from such initiatives and to utilise this knowledge in developing the approach to be taken in tackling this serious issue. The next meeting of the taskforce is expected to take place in September.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to actively support any positive actions that can be pursued to counteract the serious public safety issues associated with the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes.
