Overview
- The cabinet agreed on Monday to raise the minimum riding age to 18, make helmets and high‑visibility clothing compulsory, and extend an under‑18 ban that will come into effect in August.
- Ministers pledged legislation this year to reclassify e‑scooters as mechanically propelled vehicles and to require licensing, registration and the prohibition of sales of non‑compliant models and to minors.
- Children's Health Ireland recorded a 50% rise in paediatric traumatic brain injury admissions linked to e‑scooters in the past 12 months and estimated one to two children are presenting to emergency departments daily this summer.
- An Garda Síochána reported intensified operations with 1,412 e‑scooters seized and 793 prosecutions for possession so far this year, and ministers said they will seek stronger legal powers for officers.
- Major online retailers including Amazon and AliExpress have removed some non‑compliant scooters from sale after being told they will not list items that breach Irish rules and politicians urged all sellers to follow suit.