Scrambler ban within weeks, Darragh O’Brien says

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A ban on scramblers in all public spaces can be done by March, the Minister for Transport has said.

Darragh O’Brien said draft regulations are with the Attorney General’s Office, as it works through a legal definition for scramblers.

New legislation for the ban will be known as “Grace’s law” after teenager Grace Lynch, who died following a crash involving a scrambler bike in Dublin on January 25th.

There is already existing legislation banning the use of most scramblers in public places – and the dangerous driving of the vehicles anywhere.

However, the Government said the new laws would allow for a total ban on scrambler use in public spaces and strengthen garda enforcement powers.

O’Brien said: “We will do absolutely everything we can in Grace’s memory, and we took their inputs on board.”

He added: “In relation to the status of the ban on scramblers, that’s advancing really well.

“There were meetings yesterday at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in relation to the definition and some other legal matters.

“We have actually sent draft regulations over to the AGO already, and that’s being worked through literally in a matter of weeks.”

O’Brien said the initial focus is on a ban on scramblers on public roads and public spaces, while a separate parallel process on e-scooters and e-bikes was ongoing.

Pressed on the timeline, the minister said a legal definition of scramblers “doesn’t actually exist”.

He said: “We’re working through a robust legal definition on that – we’re talking a matter of weeks.

“I’d certainly like to see the regulations in March, I think we can do that.”

Almost 60 people have been killed or seriously injured in scrambler motorbike crashes between 2021-2025, according to analysis of figures by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Three road users were killed and 54 seriously injured in the scrambler crashes.