‘Dangerous behaviour’ - Louth gardaí raise concerns after stopping child on e-scooter

Members of An Garda Síochána in County Louth have raised concerns after an 8-year-old child was caught riding an e-scooter, the Dáil has heard.

Louth Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Mhurcú spoke on the subject during a recent debate on a motion regarding garda recruitment.

Deputy Ó Mhurcú said: “There was a recent incident in Dundalk where an eight-year-old was stopped on an e-scooter.

“Gardaí have told me about the particular issues that they have that they are not sufficiently resourced to deal with this issue, which is causing danger, not only for those who engage in dangerous behaviour on e-scooters and scramblers but also for those whom they interact with.

“We need to see not only guidelines and legislation; we need to make sure that An Garda Síochána is given the powers that are required.”

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Current legislation says that a person must be over 16 years of age to ride an e-scooter. There are also regulations around the size and power of these scooters.

Deputy Ó Mhurcú went on to commend the work of gardaí in Dundalk and further afield in preventing crime.

“It goes without saying that high-visibility garda operations can make a huge difference in preventing crime.

“I commend the community gardaí whom I have interacted with, particularly in Dundalk.

“The late night leagues with the youth diversion programmes have been running on a Thursday night for the past number of weeks. They are successful.

“It is about building relationships with kids and hopefully engaging with them from a point of view of ensuring that they can find that better road map themselves for their life.”

However, he emphasised that there is still a lot of work to be done, particularly in the Barrack Street area of the town.

“I also commend the gardaí who with me have met those on Barrack Street who are very worried about the ongoing destruction of property, anti-community action and open drug dealing.

“There is a Dublin Simon Community facility that probably has bad legacy issues. It is all about those powers that are needed.

“There is planning permission for 21 units there. Louth County Council would have to make some promises in relation to allocations, but a huge body of work needs to be done.

“From my discussions with Dublin Simon Community, it is hopefully up for it. It is between it, Louth County Council and An Garda Síochána. It is making sure that would happen.”

Deputy Ó Mhurcú concluded by saying that more gardaí are needed both in County Louth and across the country.