Darren O'Rourke
Question:
723. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of traffic offences, collisions and vehicles seized or detained involving e-scooters in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52242/21]
View answer
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question number 723 of 2 November 2021 where you requested “the number of traffic offences, collisions and vehicles seized or detained involving e-scooters in 2020 and to date in 2021.”
You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the requested information was available.
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the recording of traffic incidents and crimes reported to An Garda Síochána. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that scooters can be recorded on the Garda PULSE system as both vehicles and objects, and that a restriction of the query to vehicle records where the specific type of scooter is recorded would result in a significant under-reporting of figures.
I am also informed by the Garda authorities that a manual review of Garda records would be required to determine the number of e-scooters reported as stolen. I am further advised that a significant and disproportionate amount of Garda resources would be required to fulfil your request for data for the two year period requested and that, in light of the complexities outlined above, An Garda Síochána is not in a position to provide the information you have sought.
You may also appreciate that matters relating to legislative and regulatory classification of e-scooters, and other modes of mechanical transport, are under the remit of the Minister for Transport.
