Seán Canney urges parents against buying e-scooters for children

Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney has issued an urgent appeal to parents, advising against purchasing e-scooters as Christmas gifts for children. Canney emphasized that e-scooters are vehicles rather than toys, citing serious safety concerns.

According to Children’s Health Ireland, 18 children were admitted to the Temple Street neurosurgery team with traumatic brain injuries from e-scooter crashes between June 2025 and May 2026. Provisional Road Safety Authority figures also indicate three e-scooter related deaths on Irish public roads in 2025.

Recent regulatory changes in Ireland have raised the minimum legal age for operating an e-scooter in public from 16 to 18. Current laws mandate a 20km/h speed limit, the use of helmets and high-visibility clothing, and prohibit riding on footpaths or carrying passengers.

Canney is also proposing new legislation to classify e-scooters as mechanically propelled vehicles, which would require them to be registered. This move aims to assist authorities in identifying owners during enforcement actions.