Holly Cairns
Question:215. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to regulate e-scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/22]
View answerTuesday, 22 February 2022
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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 and 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. While their use on public roads (including footways) is illegal, I am aware that there has been some confusion over the legal constraints on their use.
It is intended to legislate for e-scooters in accordance with the Programme for Government as soon as possible, so that they may be used on our roads within a clear legal framework. Provision has been made for this in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill, which has completed second stage in the Dail and is due to go to committee stage shortly.
In order to allow for the rapid pace of technological change in this area, specific controls on the use of e-scooters will be set out in regulations, following the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas. The use of e-scooters on public roads will become legal only once these regulations are in place.