New rules taking effect on 4 September 2026 form the first step in a broader road safety package for e-scooters, with higher penalties and a planned rise in the minimum age to follow.

The Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, have introduced regulations requiring e-scooter riders to wear helmets and high-visibility clothing. The measure is aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities linked to e-scooter use and will come into force on Friday 4 September 2026.

The move follows Government approval in July 2026 of a suite of e-scooter safety measures, with further actions to be implemented in the coming weeks as legislative, administrative and technical steps are completed.

From 2nd October, fees for the detention and storage of seized e-scooters will be doubled to €80 for detention and the first day of storage, and €30 for each additional day.

The minimum age for using an e-scooter will increase from 16 to 18. On advice from the Attorney General's office, this change has been notified to the European Commission under the EU TRIS (Technical Regulation Information System) process, which can take up to 12 weeks. It is intended that these regulations will be introduced before the end of the year.

Charges for Fixed Charge Notices related to e-scooter offences will rise to €100. A new Fixed Charge Notice for failing to wear a helmet or high-visibility clothing will also be introduced at the same time, set at €100. Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, said: "Road safety is a priority for me, my Department and for this Government. We are committed to taking decisive action to make roads safer for all who use them. The growing use of e-scooters has brought new transport opportunities, but it has also been accompanied by a concerning rise in collisions, serious injuries and tragic fatalities involving riders, pedestrians and other road users.

"The regulations signed today, along with others that will take effect in the coming weeks will help create a safer environment for all road users."

Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, added: "I am pleased to have signed these regulations today. Like many of us, I am very concerned about the potential for tragedy when e-scooters are not used safely. I am pleased that we have moved quickly and effectively to introduce these regulations, which provide a proportionate regulatory framework for use of e-scooters. "They will strengthen safety standards and support effective enforcement, while ensuring that the benefits of e-scooters can be realised without compromising public safety."

Proposals concerning registration, insurance and driving licence requirements for e-scooters remain under consideration. The Department of Health is due to publish its report on the public health implications of e-scooters shortly, which will inform the Government's next steps, with proposals to be brought to Cabinet in due course.