Government to consider scrambler bike ban in public places after Dublin teen’s death

Ellen O'Donoghue

Plans to ban scramblers from public places are to go before Cabinet on Wednesday.

It comes after the Government promised renewed efforts to remove scramblers from the roads following the death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch in Finglas, Dublin last month.

She died after being hit by a scrambler motorbike as she used a pedestrian crossing on Ratoath Road.

A man appeared in court last week charged in connection with the incident.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien is expected to bring proposals to ministers on Wednesday that will allow for this ban, according to The Irish Times.

It will see scramblers prohibited from public places such as parks and roads, and follows a meeting last week that included the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney, and Attorney General Rossa Fanning.

Vehicles using public roads must be registered, taxed and insured, and drivers must hold a licence. It is believed that most scramblers do not meet these requirements and are therefore already illegal to use on roads.

However, while legislation on dangerous driving by scrambler users, which also allowed for the seizure of the vehicles, was passed in 2023, further regulations are needed to provide for the implementation of a ban.

Tighter regulations for e-scooter and e-bike users are also on the cards, including fines and mandatory helmet and high visibility clothing use.

The government has been under increasing pressure to introduce a ban after teenager Grace Lynch's death.

The Government was criticised about the situation in the Dáil last Tuesday by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who said the 2023 “legislation did not go far enough” and “has not been enacted fully”.

Earlier that day, Martin said he would be “engaging with Ministers to make sure that anything and everything that has to be done will be done to remove these scramblers from our public roads”.

He said he was involved in getting the legislation in relation to scramblers passed, and it was his view that “all aspects of that legislation, and all regulations should be signed as quickly as possible and dealt with”.

It is understood that the plans going to Cabinet on Wednesday will seek approval to prepare regulations aimed at bringing greater legal clarity to the ban on scramblers in public places.

The plans include the development of a legal definition of what a scrambler bike is, with further regulations set to follow under a power the minister has to ban or restrict the use of different types of vehicles.

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