Over 1,000 E-Scooter Fines Issued As Kildare TD Calls For Tougher Penalties After Child Injured

Friday, 19 December 2025 08:49

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

A local TD has called for stricter penalties on e-scooter use after witnessing a nine-year-old boy knocked down on a footpath in Leixlip.

There have been over one thousand fines issued to people for breaching e-scooter regulations since new legislation was brought in last year.

The restrictions mean the scooter should have a maximum speed of 20 kilometres an hour, lights, two braking systems, and those who use them must follow the rules of the road.

Tanaiste Simon Harris says there have been one thousand and two fixed charge notices issued, while a number of e-scooters have been seized.

He said people need to stop purchasing e-scooters for minors.

There were 52 cases in 2024 and 67 cases so far in 2025 where an e-scooter was detained or seized in connection with a crime other than a road traffic offence.

Meanwhile, a local TD has called for stricter penalties on e-scooter use after witnessing a nine-year-old boy knocked down on a footpath in Leixlip.

Fine Gael Kildare North TD Joe Neville witnessed the aftermath of the incident while coaching under-14 hurlers.

The boy was cycling when an e-scooter collided with him.

He was taken away in an ambulance.

"I saw a nine-year-old boy being carried away in an ambulance. He had been cycling his bike and minding his own business, along with other people, on the footpath at 7 p.m. in Leixlip. An e-scooter had come along and, obviously, hit him. There was impact there," he said.

Neville says people - especially the elderly - no longer feel safe walking or letting their kids cycle.

He questioned whether the current €50 on-the-spot fines go far enough and is urging more Garda enforcement.