Calls for increased garda effort to tackle dangers of e-scooters on Cork streets

More Garda resources are needed to tackle e-scooters, local councillors have said, as fewer than 50 people in Cork city were fined for breaches of legislation introduced over two years ago.

Nationally, 1,694 fixed charge notices issued for offences between May 2024 and 2026, according to new data, but just 4% of these were issued in Cork.

There were just 48 fines issued in Cork city and 25 in the county during the same time period.

Under the legislation — which came into effect in May 2024 — e-scooter users must be aged 16 years or older.

They must obey a speed limit of 20km/h; drive only in cycle/bus lanes or on the road; obey gardaí and general rules of the road; and have lights, a bell or audible warning device, reflectors, and brakes on their e-scooter.

Riders must not use footpaths, pedestrianised areas, or motorways, hold or use a mobile phone, have a seat on their e-scooter, or carry passengers or goods.

Six times more fines were issued in the Dublin South Central Garda division than in Cork city, and nearly four times as many were issued in Kildare/Carlow and Dublin North Central.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan told the Dáil gardaí have significant powers to combat antisocial and dangerous use of e-scooters, e-bikes, and scramblers.

Labour councillor Peter Horgan told The Echo: “This goes back, again and again, to boots-on-the-ground resources for the Cork city divisions, and having allocations on a regular basis that beef up the frontline policing in high footfall areas where the e-scooter issue is prevalent.”

The Echo revealed in February that gardaí had seized 49 e-scooters and 55 scramblers in Cork city since 2023.

Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn said he had spoken with gardaí working on policing such vehicles, and he expected the figures of fines and seizures to increase.

“Children aged 11-16 are driving these scrambler machines, which can be killing machines. They’re not alone endangering the rider, they’re endangering the public — there could be another Grace Lynch tragedy here in Cork unless more is done.”

Sergeant Jason Cotter of Mayfield Garda Station told The Echo that gardaí in Cork city are tackling the problem through a dual approach, both educational and legislative.

“Community gardaí are going into primary and secondary schools giving talks on road safety, scramblers and e-scooter legislation — educating the children, the next generation. There are also operations in place, high-visibility beats around the area that are reviewed on a monthly basis in relation to tackling e-scooter and scrambler road traffic offences.

The standard fixed charge notice for most e-scooter traffic violations is €50, so around €3,650 in fines has been issued in Cork in the two-year period.