540. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the engagement he has undertaken to date with the Department of Transport and An Garda Síochána on powers of seizure and detention in relation to Graces Law ; and whether he has undertaken any direct engagement with Gardaí in County Louth on the matter. [50929/26]

541. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of scramblers, quad bikes, and e-scooters that have been seized or detained in County Louth for the years 2024 to 2026 respectively [50930/26]

542. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of complaints received by An Garda Síochána from members of the public in relation to scramblers, quad bikes and e scooters being used in residential areas across County Louth, for the years 2025 to 2026 respectively. [50931/26]

543. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of cases in County Louth involving the seizure of scramblers, quad bikes and e scooters which resulted in a prosecution file being prepared by An Gardaí Síochána for the years 2025 to 2026 respectively. [50932/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 540, 541, 542 and 543 together.

On 1 April, the Road Traffic (Control of Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2026, known as Grace's Law, were signed into law by the Minister for Transport. These regulations prohibit the use of an off-road motorcycle, such as a scrambler or a quadbike, in any place, except on private land. They impose a requirement of consent where restricted vehicles are used on private land and will make enforcement easier.

The seriousness with which the Government views this issue is reflected in the fact the use of scramblers is now explicitly an offence, assisting An Garda Síochána operationally by ensuring that members no longer have to form a reasonable belief about dangerous use of the vehicle.

The ban on the use of scramblers in public places has only been in effect since the beginning April and as such data on prosecutions and convictions made under this legislation are not yet available.

Gardaí also have additional, and significant, legislative powers to combat the antisocial and dangerous misuse of scramblers, quad bikes, e-scooters and other such vehicles including under the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the Criminal Law Act 1997 and the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023.

I am assured that An Garda Síochána continues to adopt a proactive approach in addressing the illegal use of scramblers, and have been informed of a substantial increase in the seizure of these types of vehicles during the first quarter of 2026 when measured against the full year 2025.

Garda authorities report scrambler and quad bike seizures, at 94 and 17 incidents respectively for the first quarter of this year, are tracking well ahead of 2025 full-year figures of 159 and 40. The table below sets out the number of seizures of mechanically propelled vehicles nationally since 2024. Data is not available at a Divisional level.

An Garda Síochána respond to all calls for service and calls are routed through a regional control room and prioritised for response.

The CSO as the national statistics agency publish information on recorded crime. While there is no specific category for scrambler, e-scooter and quad bike, these offences generally fall under public order and other social code offences in addition to dangerous / negligent acts. Datasets providing figures on recorded crime incidents by Garda Station/ Division, type of offence and year/quarter can be accessed on the CSO website at the following link: [https://data.cso.ie/].

I must be clear and state that while I do meet with and engage regularly with the Commissioner, as well as Gardaí around the country, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for directing Garda members and for the operational response to crime in any location.