643. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if An Garda Síochána has doubled fees to retrieve impounded vehicles, including scramblers; if so, the date on which the fee increase came into effect; the date on which the fee increase will also apply to E-scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64106/26]

On 1 April the Road Traffic (Control of Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2026, known as Grace's Law in memory of Grace Lynch, were signed into law. The regulations implement an explicit ban on scrambler use in any public place and strengthen existing provisions and powers of enforcement by An Garda Síochána.

I signed further regulations on 21 July to double the charges applying to vehicles seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 (as amended). This section provides that the Minister for Transport may, after consultation with the Minister for Justice, make regulations in relation to An Garda Síochána’s powers of detention, removal, storage and release or disposal of mechanically propelled vehicles, including scramblers, in use in a public place. Reasons for seizure under Section 41 include no valid driving licence, no valid insurance, no valid roadworthiness certificate and no motor tax.

S.I. No. 354 of 2026 - Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Powered Personal Transporters) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 came into operation on 14 August and increased the detention, removal and storages fees as follows

• In the case of a vehicle weighing less than 3,500kg - from €125 to €250 for one day, and from €35 to €70 for each additional day of storage.

• In the case of a vehicle weighing more than 3,500kg - from €250 to €500 for one day, and from €50 to €100 for each additional day of storage.

Fees for the detention and storage of e-scooters seized by An Garda Síochána will be doubled from the 2 October (S.I. No. 454 of 2026 - Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Powered Personal Transporters) (Amendment) Regulations 2026). The fee for detention and first day of storage will be doubled from €40 to €80, and for each further day of storage the fee will be doubled from €15 to €30.