Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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176. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the new draft e-scooter regulations currently exclude shared e-scooters due to the fact that they include a 25kg weight limit; if he is aware that shared services include enhanced safety features which make such scooters heavier than 25kg; if he will outline his plans for such shared services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46573/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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My priority, in introducing this new form of road transport under the Programme for Government, is the safety of all road users, including e-scooter users. In the absence of a common EU position on the regulation of e-scooters, my Department undertook comprehensive public and stakeholder consultations to inform the drafting of Irish regulatory and technical requirements, including with the Road Safety Authority, the National Transport Authority, An Garda Síochána, local government and a range of industry, advocacy and accessibility groups.

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 weight limit provides for the safety of other road users, particularly more vulnerable users in segregated road spaces. In addition, as the 2021 EU Motor Insurance Directive, (EU) 2021/2118, requires compulsory motor insurance for any motorised road vehicle that is capable of more than 25km/h or that weighs more than 25kg and is capable of more than 14km/h, the PPT weight restriction avoids compulsory insurance becoming a barrier to micromobility uptake.

The draft Road Traffic (Electric Scooter) Regulations, which will be finalised before the end of this year, cover technical and design requirements for all e-scooters, private and rental, to be used on public roads, with the safety of all road users as the foremost consideration.

There is no change proposed to the weight limit of 25 kg for e-scooters in the draft Regulations. An increase in the limit would remove e-scooters from the PPT vehicle class and they would then require motor tax, registration and a licence to use on public roads, as well as motor insurance. As vehicles cannot be registered without EU type-approval, which does not currently exist for e-scooters, and in Ireland it is not possible to insure an unregistered motor vehicle, this is not currently a feasible option.

It is noted that some European cities have recently, withdrawn, or are considering the withdrawal of, commercial e-scooter rental services, on a number of grounds, including road user and pedestrian safety. Discussions on a common European position on e-scooters have recently begun and it is expected that solutions to many of the issues arising from their introduction and use, both private and commercial, will be addressed through that process.