E-scooters set to be banned for under-18s

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Updated / Monday, 20 Jul 2026 13:45

Gavin O\u0027Callaghan

By Gavin O'Callaghan

E-scooters will be banned for anyone aged under 18, under proposals agreed by the Government.

It was also agreed that hi-vis jackets and helmets will also be mandatory for all e-scooter use, which will take effect in August.

Later this year, legislation will be introduced to treat e-scooters as mechanically propelled vehicles and there will be a requirement for licensing and registration.

This will also prohibit the sale of scooters to minors and the sale of scooters that do not meet the legal requirements for use on public roads.

An outright ban will "remain on the table", the Government said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, Minister of State for Transport Sean Canney and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly met at Government Buildings this morning.

The Garda Commissioner outlined to the meeting that there has been a significant increase in garda operations connected to e-scooters and that 1,412 e-scooters have been seized so far this year.

There have been 793 prosecutions for possession of e-scooters this year.

The meeting also discussed the initial data from Children's Health Ireland and the HSE indicating a concerning pattern of serious and life changing injuries caused by e-scooter crashes.

More than one third of all paediatric traumatic brain injury admissions to CHI at Temple Street in 2026 were related to e-scooters. Admissions for traumatic brain injuries from e-scooter accidents increased by 50% in the last 12 months.

CHI estimates that one to two children a day are presenting across emergency departments with e-scooter injuries.

It was also agreed further protections will be provided to members of An Garda Síochána to mirror the system in the UK. This would grant greater legal protections to gardaí when pursuing e-scooters and e-bikes.

The Taoiseach said the report from CHI is "very, very serious", in relation to the number of young people who have been seriously injured in e-scooter crashes or falls.

Micheál Martin said the decision taken today will go before the Cabinet next week.

He said a full ban is being kept on the table.

He said all of the proposals are designed to bring about a change both in terms of the use of e-scooters and enhance safety around them.

Minister of State Sean Canney said the sale and purchase of e-scooters is currently undocumented, so the proposed legislation on licenses will give gardai information with regards to the age of e-scooter riders.

He said current regulations are hard to enforce "when you don't know who bought the e-scooter, you don’t know where it was bought, and you don’t know what it is being used for".

E-scooters set to be banned for under-18s

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