The Road Traffic and Roads Bill introduced in the Dáil on 19 November, categorises a wide range of increasingly-used, lightweight micro-mobility vehicles, including eScooters, as powered personal transporters. Following enactment it will provide for the making of regulations governing the use and technical standards of these vehicles.
While the conclusion of the legislation is ultimately in the hands of the Oireachtas, it is a priority for the Government, and I am hopeful that the legislation can be enacted in the first half of 2022. Following enactment, the technical regulations made under this piece of legislation will be notified to the EU Commission for a period of at least three months as is required under the Single Market Transparency Directive (EU) 2015/1535. Following the successful conclusion of this mandatory notification period, the regulations governing the use of eScooters can be brought into effect.