Ban on e-scooters for under-18s comes into force today

New regulations requiring helmets and high visibility clothing came into force after a number of accidents.

Up to now, the minimum age for e-scooter use was 16, but as of today, it increases to 18, making any use of an e-scooter by a child illegal.

Fees for the storage of seized e-scooters also doubles from today to €80 on the day, increasing by €30 a day.

Meanwhile, Gardai have cracked down on modified e-scooters. An Garda Síochána say that 310 e-scooters were seized in 2024, rising to 931 in 2025.

In the first six months of 2026 alone, Gardaí recorded a further 754 incidents in which an e-scooter was seized.

The figure for the first half of this year is already equivalent to more than 80% of the total recorded throughout 2025.

These new rules have been introduced after a series of accidents left children in hospital. Some staff in CHI Temple Street called for an outright ban for children.

In a two week period in July, six children were put on life support due to injuries they sustained from e-scooters crahes or falls.

The ban comes four weeks after the new regulations making the use of high visibility clothing and helmets mandatory for e-scooter users, however, compliance appears to be low so far.

Speaking on the enforcement of the new regulations, Minister Sean Canney said everyone going on an e-scooter holds a responsibility.

"Their parents will also need need to know. And if somebody's buying an e-scooter for their child, it will be the owner of these scooters with the person that will actually be prosecuted," he said.

"What we're doing is bringing in legislation that will give clarity, so you can actually physically see that somebody's not wearing a high-vis vest or a helmet. You can say stop."