322. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the scientific, engineering, collision-safety or risk-assessment evidence that was used to select 25 kg as Ireland’s maximum permissible e-scooter weight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65482/26]

The Road Traffic & Road Act 2023 sets out that a maximum net weight of 25kg will apply to all powered personal transporters (PPTs). This limit has been determined to ensure that national road traffic legislation aligns with binding commitments under European motor insurance law, specifically those laid down in Directive (EU) 2021/2118 (amending Directive 2009/103/EC). This limit subsequently applied to e-scooters through the 2024 Regulations.

The 2024 Regulations established technical requirements for e-scooters with the objective of providing a framework for their safe use on public roads and the 25Kg limit forms part of the statutory definition of a powered personal transporter in section 3(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, inserted by section 16 of the Road Traffic Act 2024, with section 17 of the 2023 Act which also confirming that battery weight counts towards the unladen weight.

The 25kg threshold was established in the context of the insurance requirements applicable to vehicles over 25kg . Safety considerations were also a factor in determining the requirements for e-scooters, given the relative instability of an e-scooter, the speed it can travel at and their high rate of acceleration.