Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
59. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the introduction of micro-mobility scooters; when legislation will be advanced to allow companies to tender for contracts with local authorities; and when the tendering process will begin. [7489/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government has committed my Department to legislating for the use of e-scooter. The Road Traffic and Roads Bill, which completed committee stage before the Seanad on 1 February, will amend the Road Traffic Act 1961 to create a new vehicle class, Powered Personal Transporters (PPTs), which will include e-scooters. The Bill does not legalise the use of e-scooters but allows for the rules for the safe use of e-scooters and technical standards to be provided in regulations.
The completion of the e-scooter regulations is subject to the passage of the Bill before the Oireachtas and legal notification obligations to the Commission under the Single Market Transparency Directive (EU) 2015/1535, which will take a minimum of 12 weeks. Until such time as regulations are in place, the use of e-scooters on Irish roads will remain illegal.
As Minister, I have no role in the tendering of services between local authorities and private operators. However, in line with the Climate Action Plan 2023, a detailed scoping assessment of policy models for the development and management of shared micro-mobility schemes in the Greater Dublin Area, for subsequent nationwide implementation, is currently being undertaken by the National Transport Authority. Following the conclusion of this assessment, my Department intends developing guidance for local authorities on potential operating models for these types of service, including criteria for consideration at tender stage.
