Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
120. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport if legislation dealing with e-scooters will legalise all e-scooters; if not, if it will legalise sharing scooters and companies as has been done in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10041/21]
View answer121. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport when e-scooter legislation will be introduced in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10042/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
Electric scooters are a type of powered personal transporter (PPT). PPTs are classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, the use of which requires a valid licence, tax and appropriate insurance in accordance with Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. As PPTs do not fall under any existing vehicle category, it is not currently possible to tax and insure them and there is no separate licence category for them. Therefore, they may not be used on public roads and in public places. However, their use is permitted on private land with the permission of the landowner.
The intention is to legislate for e-scooters in accordance with the Programme for Government this year. This involves identifying and developing appropriate amendments to primary legislation across a range of complex areas. The work is being carried out in such a way so that it does not undermine the overall framework of Road Traffic law or road safety in general. Department officials are currently working on drafting the necessary changes to primary legislation. Subject to satisfactory resolution of the necessary issues, I intend to bring forward committee stage amendments to the enabling primary legislation when the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is before the Oireachtas.
The current approach taken by my Department to permit the safe use of e-scooters on public roads takes into consideration the rapid development of these vehicles used for personal transportation. In order to future-proof the legislation and account for the development of these new vehicles, the road traffic acts are being amended to introduce a new category of vehicle - the proposed title for this new category is "powered personal transporters". This will be the first time the categories of vehicles set out in the Road Traffic Act 1961 have been amended.
Once the new category has been defined, these vehicles are to be incorporated into the existing legislative framework (wherein a range of powers/offences already exist) and this will permit the Minister for Transport to regulate for the use/misuse and the standards for different types of powered personal transporters, for example, through the introduction of regulations for e-scooters. Furthermore, the existing offences and powers of An Garda Síochána in road traffic legislation concerning careless/dangerous driving, driving under the influence of an intoxicant, driving an unroadworthy vehicle. etc. can also then be extended to users of powered personal transporters where required.
The introduction of shared/rental schemes, such as those currently in operation for cars, bicycles and electric bicycles will be a matter for consideration at a later date as the legislation progresses within the overall framework of sustainable mobility policy. Until the new legislation is in place, the use of e-scooters on public roads or in public places will remain illegal.
