Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
263. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if using an electric powered scooter or bike is an offence against which Garda enforcement is possible; and whether the new legislation on the regulation of such vehicles requires regulations or a commencement date before they become effective. [48319/23]
View answerThe Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 23 June 2023. Under the Programme for Government, it was agreed that the Government would legislate for the use of e-scooters and e-bikes, and these matters are addressed in the Act.
The Act creates a new vehicle category, Powered Personal Transporters (PPTs), which will include e-scooters and future micro-mobility devices as needed. PPTs do not require registration, motor tax, insurance or a driving licence to use on Irish roads.
PPTs may not be used until regulations, setting out technical standards and how they may be safely used on Irish roads, are in place. Therefore, e-scooters are currently not legal for use on public roads pending the introduction of these regulations are in place. Furthermore, once regulations are in place, e-scooters that do not comply with those regulations will remain illegal for use on Irish roads.
Section 32 of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 amends section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 to allow An Garda Síochána to seize PPTs (e-scooters) that are in contravention of regulations under Section 11 or Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
Until the commencement of the new provisions, e-scooters are still legally classed as mechanically propelled vehicles. As such they can be seized by the Garda under current legislation if used in a public place without tax or insurance.
E-bikes are currently legal to for use in Ireland and are classed as pedal cycles. E-bikes with a maximum power output of 250W, a motor cut-off speed of 25km/hr and a requirement for pedalling will continue to be treated as pedal bicycles under Irish law and there will be no change to the legal status of these pedal assist e-bikes. E-bikes outside of the above parameters will be treated as e-mopeds, which will require AM licence, registration, tax, and insurance.
It is anticipated that all regulations for e-scooters will be in place during the remainder of quarter 4 this year.
