Mary Lou McDonald: E-scooter Crisis Endangering Children
Mary Lou McDonald responds to the CHI report showing 1,130 emergency attendances for e-scooter injuries between January 21 and August 2025 and a 50% rise in traumatic brain injuries over the past 12 months. She warns that e-scooters and scramblers are being used by gangs, leaving communities intimidated and children at risk, and calls for swift government action.
CHI findings and statistics
Mary Lou McDonald highlights the CHI data detailing 1,130 attendances at CHI emergency departments for e-scooter related injuries between January 21 and August 2025, and a 50% increase in traumatic brain injuries among children and young people over the last 12 months. The figures frame a public health and safety crisis affecting young people across the country.
Case examples and community impact
Mary Lou McDonald recalls the horrific death of Grace Lynch and the severe injuries suffered by Jayden Deans as stark examples of the human cost. She stresses that communities are being terrorized, with young people injured and families living in fear as scramblers and e-scooters are misused.
Policing, gangs and enforcement gaps
Mary Lou McDonald emphasises that both scramblers and e-scooters are being used to distribute drugs, intimidate residents and evade the Gardaí. She criticises the lack of enforcement, citing the Gardaí commissioner's comments on pursuit training delays and warning that the situation has become a Wild West on the streets.
Urgent call for government action
Mary Lou McDonald says the issue is at a tipping point and urges the government to act quickly. She notes that senior ministers, including the Taoiseach and members of government, will meet early next week and she expects swift proposals to protect children and restore community safety.
Consequences and next steps
Mary Lou McDonald frames the CHI findings as a national emergency for child safety and community security. She calls for immediate, robust regulatory measures or tougher interventions to stop the rising toll of injuries and to give communities respite from intimidation and danger.
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Tánaiste, the CHI report on e-scooter related injuries for children is really, really shocking. The report that between January 21 and August 2025, there were 1130 attendances at CHI emergency departments due to e-scooter related injuries. That over the last 12 months there's been a 50% increase in children and young people being admitted for traumatic brain injuries. We know, Tánaiste, that many have been injured, some killed due to scramblers. Earlier this week we had Grace Lynch's parents here in the Oireachtas. We recalled her horrific death. I raised also the horrific injuries of young boy Jayden Deans as a result of scramblers. We know that both scramblers and e-scooters are being used by gangs to distribute drugs, to openly and actively intimidate, to evade the Gardaí. And yet we heard the Gardaí commissioner saying that there would be no chance of pursuit training because of the EU presidency until next year. I found that really, really shocking. So we have laws that aren't enforced. We have communities left to their own devices. We have a situation that's literally out of control. So the question is, in relation to e-scooters and scramblers, what is going to happen? We have laws that aren't being enforced. We have the Gardaí that will not actively pursue. And then in the case of e-scooters, we literally have the Wild West. It's putting people in danger, young people in danger. And communities actively intimidated, terrorized, injured, and indeed far worse. Thanks very much, Deputy. I have a big long note here which I have no intention of reading out because I think this issue is at a really critical stage. I met Grace Lynch's parents, two incredible people, really trying to make society safer after the loss of their daughter, Grace. On the e-scooter issue, though, I think from my memory I heard somebody say it's the number one reason children are now ending up in ICU. It's an incredible thing to say. The number one reason children end up in ICU in Ireland is because of e-scooter accidents. I've heard a lot of comments in recent days. Do you ban them? Do you very quickly move to put in place a more robust regulatory system, because there isn't one in place today, of an open mind? But this is now at a tipping point where we need to move and move quickly. The government is, certain members of the government, including myself and the Taoiseach, are meeting on this early next week, and I would like to see a swift set of proposals come from government in relation to this, and I'm happy to keep you updated on that, too. Thank you.
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