The Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, along with Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney and Minister of State for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer, has announced plans to introduce a total ban on the use of scramblers in public places.

The proposal follows the tragic death of Grace Lynch on 25 January, which prompted the Taoiseach to convene senior Government officials to examine the urgent need for strengthened legislation around scrambler use.

The ministers are now moving to implement new regulations that will not only introduce an outright public‑place ban but also reinforce the enforcement powers of An Garda Síochána.

The upcoming regulations are aimed at closing any remaining loopholes that may have allowed scrambler use outside appropriate off‑road environments.

As part of the immediate measures, the Government intends to increase daily fees applied to seized vehicles—an effort to discourage illegal scrambler use and reduce the likelihood of seized vehicles being reclaimed and returned to the roads.

Under current legislation, scramblers—classified as mechanically propelled vehicles—may only be driven legally on public roads if they are registered and display a registration plate.

Since most scramblers are designed exclusively for off-road use, they are not registered and therefore already illegal on public roads.

Without registration, these vehicles cannot be taxed, and Gardaí retain the authority to seize any vehicle being driven illegally or without proper insurance or licensing.

Seized vehicles may be disposed of after six weeks, provided adequate notice is given.

Minister O’Brien emphasised the urgency behind the new measures:

“These new regulations will help to bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases. We owe it to Grace Lynch, her family and her friends to introduce regulations to further restrict the inappropriate use of scramblers in public places as a matter of urgency.

We call on all scrambler users to obey the laws that are designed to ensure the safety of everyone.”

Minister Canney highlighted the existing enforcement tools already available:

“The new regulations will build on the existing legislative position and give clarity to the Gardaí in relation to the use of scramblers in public places. Most scramblers already cannot be used legally in public places, and none can legally be driven dangerously anywhere.

An Garda Síochána already has full powers to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously in any location, and they can also enter the curtilage of a dwelling to retrieve a scrambler after the fact. These powers are being used. Since 2023, over 1,000 e-scooters, quad bikes and scramblers have been seized.”

Minister Buttimer urged the public to consider the legal implications before purchasing scramblers:

“Anyone considering the purchase of an off-road scrambler should be aware that unless it is used exclusively for off-road purposes such as farm work, there is no lawful reason to possess one.

Where a scrambler is used entirely off roads and away from public places, and is driven safely with the landowner’s permission, it remains legal—and it is not our intention to restrict such lawful uses.”