Labour calls for urgent action on illegal scramblers

– Immediate action on scrambler enforcement

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on this Government to take urgent and decisive action to tackle the dangerous and illegal use of scramblers, quad bikes and e-scooters, following her intervention in the Dáil today after the tragic death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch in Finglas. 

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Bacik said that sympathy from Government is no longer enough, and called for immediate enforcement measures, the rapid deployment of existing Garda powers, and consideration of an emergency freeze on scrambler use until effective safeguards are in place. She said the tragedy highlights a systemic failure of enforcement, regulation and political urgency, and warned that without action, further lives will be lost.

Deputy Bacik said:

“Families are struggling to comprehend how children can lose their lives in entirely preventable circumstances. The unimaginable pain described by Grace Lynch’s mother is something no parent should ever have to endure, and my deepest condolences are with Grace’s family and friends.

“Scramblers are not toys. They are capable of causing catastrophic injury, not just to riders, but to everyone around them. The misuse of these vehicles represents a clear and ongoing threat to public safety.

“This Government has failed to act with the urgency this issue demands. We know the scale of the danger. Catastrophic injuries caused by scramblers have been evident for years, and e-scooter related brain injuries now account for more than a quarter of paediatric neurosurgical admissions at Temple Street Hospital. Yet enforcement has remained inconsistent and inadequate.

“The Taoiseach’s response in the Dáil today was disappointing. While he acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, he offered no clear timeline and no concrete reassurance to families who are rightly asking when action will finally follow words.

“Existing measures are not being used. Four years after the establishment of a specialist Garda drone unit to tackle illegal scrambler use, it remains effectively grounded due to delays in finalising a legal framework. The Minister for Justice has said that ‘work is ongoing’ on a code of practice, but ongoing work does not save lives. Delay is costing lives.

“Labour is calling for immediate, visible and consistent enforcement, the urgent deployment of all available Garda resources, and decisive regulatory action, including an emergency freeze on scrambler use until proper enforcement mechanisms are fully operational. Road safety is not an abstract policy issue. It is about whether people can walk, cycle, play, or simply exist in their communities without fear. Families deserve better. This Government must act now.”