A BAN ON the use of scramblers in public places is set to come into force next week.

The legislation will be named after Grace Lynch, a 16-year-old who died on 25 January after an incident involving one of the bikes in Finglas.

It will see a total ban on scrambler use in public places or on public roads, as well as strengthening the existing enforcement powers of An Garda Síochána.

Gardaí will get enhanced powers of seizure to reduce the number of seized vehicles that end up back on the roads.

Currently, scramblers can only be legally driven on public roads if they are registered and have a registration plate.

However, most scramblers are designed for off-road use only and are unregistered, and therefore already illegal for use on public roads. 

Speaking today, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said that he will bring the legislation before Cabinet on Wednesday.

He added that the ban should “take effect by the end of next week”.

“We’ve already liaised with An Garda Síochána,” said O’Brien.

“There will be a very short lead in time of one or two days. I want it in place next week.”

He said he has “remained in contact with Grace’s family and have kept them abreast of progress”.

“They’ve been incredibly strong through this whole awful situation.”

Siobhán Lynch and Martin Lynch on way into Government Buildings to meet the Minister for Transport last month. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

He added: “I made it clear that we could bring about a ban on scramblers in all public places, public parks and on our public roads.”

Before bringing the legislation to Cabinet, O’Brien said he will have a “final meeting with the Attorney General on Monday”.

He said this will allow him to bring the legislation, entitled Grace’s Law, for approval to Cabinet on Wednesday.

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O’Brien said the legislation will be “in Grace’s memory, with the support of her parents”.

“Everything we do with this is with Grace in mind,” he added.

Meanwhile, O’Brien noted that there have been “complexities” around the definition of a scrambler.

“There wasn’t an actual definition in Irish law of that type of vehicle,” he said.

“So we’ve had to do that work.”

He added that the penalties will be “effectively the confiscation and destruction of the vehicle”.

“You will not be allowed to use a scrambler on public roads or in public places,” said O’Brien.

“Use for sporting purposes in certain designated areas, that’s fine, but not anywhere else.”