The minimum age for riding an e-scooter in Ireland could be raised from 16 to 18 by the end of September or early October.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said he has received approval from the European Commission to proceed with the proposed change without having to observe the usual three-month waiting period.
The State had previously been told that the proposed regulations would have to remain under consideration for three months under European rules. However, the Commission has now agreed to waive that period after the Government made the case for the measures to be introduced urgently.
Minister O'Brien said the decision means work can now begin on drafting the necessary regulations.
The move comes as a number of new safety requirements for e-scooter users are due to take effect.
From tomorrow, riders will be required to wear a helmet and high-visibility clothing when using an e-scooter. Those who breach the rules will face a fixed charge notice of €100.
From October 2, the cost of detaining and storing seized e-scooters will also increase. Detention and the first day of storage will cost €80, followed by €30 for each additional day.
The Government is also considering further measures, including requirements around registration, insurance and driving licences.
A complete ban on e-scooters has not been ruled out. A Department of Health report examining the public health impact of the vehicles is expected to be published shortly and will help inform future Government decisions.
The Government's decision to tighten the rules follows growing concern among medical professionals about serious injuries involving e-scooters.
In July, doctors at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street called for an outright ban after six children were placed on life support over a two-week period following e-scooter-related injuries.
Medical staff described the situation as an epidemic and said almost half of the hospital's intensive care capacity was being occupied by children suffering traumatic brain injuries linked to e-scooter accidents.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about how effectively the new regulations can be enforced.
Detective Garda Niall Hodgins of the Garda Representative Association said the new laws could prove difficult to enforce against riders who deliberately refuse to comply.
“Enforcement on these laws is likely to be weak, for a multiplicity of reasons,” he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
He said the absence of a registration system for e-scooters would create particular difficulties for gardaí dealing with riders who flee from a scene or refuse to stop.
“Without registration of these vehicles, we really can't do anything with the user who speeds away or leaves a scene,” he said.
Det Garda Hodgins said there was an intention to police e-scooter offences in a similar way to motor vehicle offences, but argued that the lack of registration created a significant gap.
“There's a clear intention here to police this issue, like they do motor vehicles. But without registration, we're really at nothing with regards to the user who speeds away, who rides on a footpath, who's non-compliant or is involved in an incident and leaves the scene,” he said.
He also questioned what would happen if a rider refused to stop when approached by gardaí for failing to wear a helmet or high-visibility clothing.
Det Garda Hodgins said gardaí were not trained to intervene in situations involving that level of non-compliance and said the GRA had sought greater protections for officers.
He added that enforcing individual breaches could place significant demands on Garda resources.
“The garda requires a physical intervention, he is the witness of the offence, he has to stop the rider, he has to establish the ID, and then he has to inspect the scooter, so there's a high cost involved here,” he said.
The proposed increase in the minimum age to 18 is expected to be brought forward in the coming weeks, with the Government continuing to assess whether further restrictions are required.
