E-scooter regulations need to change, Jack Chambers says

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

E-scooter regulations “need to change”, the Minister for Public Expenditure has said.

Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers was responding to a question from Mary Lou McDonald during Leader’s Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday.

The Sinn Féin leader said the country has been “shocked” by reports of “children now fighting for their lives because of e-scooter crashes”.

She said she had heard “doctors warn of an epidemic of traumatic brain injury”, gardaí concerned about the risks of their “reckless and unlawful use” and “many older people are literally afraid to walk through town centres”.

The Government’s policy is “slow, fragmented, wholly inadequate”, she added, and said Gardaí need greater enforcement powers and penalties.

Mr Chambers said he shared her “significant” concerns around the vehicles, and said Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, told him a review of regulations is under way.

He said this would be particularly focused on helmets and high-visibility clothing, adding: “With a view to addressing the concerns that have been documented around head injuries and other serious injuries.”

He also said Mr O’Brien is “considering a range of proposals in the context of the next road traffic bill”.

Agreeing with Ms McDonald, he said: “I don’t think we can leave the current regulatory system as it is.”

He said the “shocking” evidence coming from across the country has to be taken into account, and added: “I think we need to change some of the regulations that exist today, because it’s causing a significant impact on young people.”

Earlier in the session, the pair clashed over housing, with Mr Chambers calling Sinn Féin’s housing policy a “complete and utter failure” during a testy exchange.

Ms McDonald raised the issue after the publication on Tuesday of a report which found asking price inflation rose to 5% in the last year.

The MyHome.ie and Bank of Ireland report said the median asking price for new listings nationally was €395,000 in the second quarter of 2026, €495,000 in Dublin and €350,000 in the rest of the country.

In addition, it said that in May and June homes were being sold for an average of 7-8% over the asking price.

Ms McDonald said this made for “very, very grim reading for everybody, but especially for young people trying to get their first home”.

“At the heart of this crisis, Minister, is broken government policy, policy built on empty promises rather than delivery,” she added.

Mr Chambers said all the reforms introduced by the government are “all about” increasing housing supply.

Addressing Ms McDonald, he said this was something “you do not acknowledge in all of your contributions; you attack, you criticise, and you object, but you do not support policy which actually works in enabling greater supply”.

He said there was “record delivery” and “strong growth” last year when the government delivered 17,500 starter homes in 2025.

He said “many of your councillors across different local authorities, and even yourself in Dublin Central” continuously oppose homes and supply opportunities, describing this as “promoting local objectives and nimbyism over the greater good”.

“That’s Sinn Féin’s policy,” he continued, “opposition on the ground and attacking government at a national level.”

Responding, Ms McDonald said she was “struck by the profound irony” of Mr Chambers’ emphasis on supply “when, in fact, your government only managed to deliver 935 affordable homes last year.”

“So, if supply is the thing, and it is the thing, you are failing abjectly on that measure,” she added.

“Your policy is a complete and utter failure,” Mr Chambers responded, “it’s a dishonest policy position when it comes to improving housing supply; it’s populist waffle.”