198. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount paid by insurance companies to injured parties in respect of damage and injuries relating to e-bike, e-scooter and scrambler collisions in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [53200/26]

As Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, I have policy responsibility for the development of the legal framework governing financial services regulation, including for the insurance sector.

The requirement to hold motor insurance is governed by the Road Traffic Acts and is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport. The Department of Transport have advised that the 2021 EU Motor Insurance Directive (EU) 2021/2118 requires compulsory motor insurance for any motorised road vehicle that is capable of more than 25 km/h or that weighs more than 25 kg and is capable of more than 14 km/h. The 2023 Road Traffic and Roads Act has established a new vehicle class, powered personal transporters or PPTs. PPTs, which will include e-scooters, do not need registration, motor tax, motor insurance or a driving licence. PPTs have a maximum weight, including batteries, of 25 kg, maximum power of 500 W and a maximum design speed of 25 kmh. The PPT weight restriction avoids compulsory insurance becoming a barrier to micromobility uptake.

The Department of Finance does not collect or hold the requested data with respect to the amount paid by insurance companies to injured parties in incidents relating to e-bike, e-scooter and scrambler collisions. Insurance Ireland, the representative body for insurers in Ireland, have confirmed that such data is not currently available from the insurance industry on an aggregated basis. However, the Injuries Resolution Board, published a Report ‘Accidents involving Cyclists and E-scooter Users’ in December 2024, which can be accessed on their website at www.irb.ie.