E-scooter regulation
Deputy Fitzpatrick sought a timeline for legislation regulating e-scooters and warned about safety concerns. The Taoiseach said he did not have a response and would reply in writing.
Under the programme for Government, the target for decarbonising the transport sector is encouraging a modal shift away from travel by private car towards less carbon-intensive and more sustainable alternatives. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has stated that micro-mobility options like e-scooters have an important role to play in this transition to a cleaner and greener society and economy. I am seeking clarity on when the legislation for the regulation of e-scooters will come into force. Not only are these scooters life-threatening to users, which is commonly more than one person, they are also a danger to pedestrians as a result of misuse, speeding and no regulations. There were 746 traffic incidents involving e-scooters in the country last year, including 554 collisions. Another issue is that when e-scooters are parked in a haphazard fashion on footpaths, they present an obstacle. This is a real issue for people with disabilities and visual impairments. Two years on, however, there is still no legislation. Considering that a woman in her eighties died after being in collision with someone on an e-scooter in Dublin at the weekend, I ask the Taoiseach for an update on the said promised legislation and the estimated timeframe for its implementation.