Taoiseach to introduce game-changing scrambler ban as early as next week: ‘He promised Grace’s mother’

A senior coalition source said they hope to have the ban in place within the next week or two

16:42, 31 Jan 2026Updated 17:38, 31 Jan 2026

Grace Lynch

The Government will move to ban the use of scramblers in public places as early as next week.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has demanded that all loopholes over the Traffic and Road Act 2023 be closed. The issue will be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting.

A senior coalition source said they hope to have the ban in place within the next week or two. It is understood the Taoiseach has spoken a number of times in recent days to the heartbroken mother of 16-year-old Grace Lynch, who was killed after being hit by a scrambler bike in Finglas last weekend. The teenager was laid to rest after her funeral yesterday.

Mr Martin has had a lengthy meeting with all the Ministers and civil servants involved – and is determined that no more scramblers will be allowed on roads, parks or any public place, irrespective if the owner is over 16, has a licence and the vehicle taxed and insured. Gardai have seized over 1,000 scramblers and e-scooters for violating road traffic rules in the past 30 months since the new act came into force in June 2023.

But the immediate ban on scramblers in public places did not proceed because of reservations in the Department of Transport. The source said: “Mr Martin has ordered all loopholes to be closed and he promised Grace’s mother.

“This is what is going to happen so nothing like this ever happens again.” There will also be a crackdown on e-scooters with a new law insisting that everyone on an e-scooter wears a helmet, and that shops will be heavily punished if they electronically interfere with the 20km speed limit.

This illegal practice has become a problem and has resulted in some people driving at illegal high speeds. There have been discussions with gardai concerning enforcement of the laws in relation to e-scooters.

The Government source added: “The crackdown on e-scooters is long overdue. The helmets and reduced speeds will be strictly enforced from here on in over the coming months until users finally get the message and stop breaking the law.”

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