The Irish Government expects to increase the minimum legal age for operating e-scooters from 16 to 18 as early as the end of September 2026, following approval from the European Union to fast-track the regulation.

Speaking on Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien confirmed that EU authorities granted Ireland an urgent adoption procedure. The measure allows the Department of Transport to bypass a standard three-month standstill period typically required under EU single-market notification rules.

The update comes as mandatory helmet and high-visibility clothing rules for e-scooter users came into force across Ireland on September 4. Further measures, including €100 fixed-charge fines for safety breaches and increased detention fees for confiscated e-scooters, are scheduled for implementation in the coming weeks.

The Government's decision to tighten micro-mobility rules follows warnings from medical professionals regarding serious youth injuries. Reports from Children's Health Ireland highlighted a notable rise in paediatric head injuries associated with e-scooter incidents, prompting public health officials and ministers to push for stricter regulatory controls.