A ban on the use of e-scooters for under 18s is to come into effect from today.
This comes into effect just four weeks after new regulations requiring e scooter users to wear helmets and high visibility were also implemented.
Prior to this latest rule change, the minimum age for using e scooters was 16 years old, which has been increased to 18m prohibiting the use of an e scooter for a child. It was also revealed that fees for the detention and storage of any seized e scooter would also double to an initial €80, increasing by €30 per day thereafter.
While compliance with these rules appears to be low, Transport Minister, Darragh O'Brien has said that while every rule requires a bedding in period, he is "watching carefully" to see how people are responding to these new regulations, according to RTÉ.
This comes after CHI Temple Street had reported a high number of children requiring treatment at their Emergency Department after being critically injured from accidents concerning e scooters. In early July, six children were placed on life support in one Dublin hospital across a two week period due from e scooter related injuries.
CHI called for an outright ban on their use as a result, with doctors calling the issue an epidemic, saying that close to half of the hospital's ICU capacity was being used by children suffering with traumatic brain injuries from e scooter related accidents. They called on the Irish Government to act.
The Department of Transport had initially thought they would have to wait several months to implement this ban on the use of e scooters for under 18s due to EU rules. But they were told last month that Europe had effectively waived those rules and that they could implement their ban on under 18s using e scooters from today.
Gardaí have said that while compliance with the high visibility and helmet wearing appears low, it is remains too early to release accurate figures as the implementation of these rules are still recent.
They added that they continue to take a proactive approach regarding the enforcement of these regulations and the seizure of such vehicles.
They said that in 2024, 310 seizures of e scooters were reported, which trebled to 931 the following year.
Meanwhile, the first three months of this year have seen 754 seizures, with Gardaí saying that their efforts have been greatly boosted by the new e scooter regulations, which will become more evident when more data from 2026 is released.
Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien said that the fixed charge notices for any offences committed concerning e scooters will also be increased soon, and that work in having e scooters registered is also progressing, but is slightly more complicated.
An outright ban on e scooters could be on the cards on the future, but for the next few weeks, the focus remains to be on how these new measures will be enforced.
