Dr Irwin Gill, a consultant in neurodisability at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple Street, said the Government had introduced no new measures specifically protecting children who were already prohibited from using e-scooters on public roads, the Irish Independent reports.

“I am concerned that neither of these changes offer any additional regulatory protection to the cohort of children we are advocating on behalf of. Under 16s were always banned from using e-scooters in Ireland,” he said.

“As such, at present, the Government has not implemented any regulatory changes to offer additional protection to young people under the age of 16 from the dangers of e-scooters.

“Current protections, which exist in principle, are not protecting children in practice and an ongoing conversation is needed about what risks we are prepared to accept on our roads when it comes to child safety.”

The Government has recently tightened e-scooter rules, making helmets and high-visibility clothing compulsory and raising the minimum legal age from 16 to 18 on October 2. Charges for detaining and storing seized scooters have also increased, while fixed-charge penalties for offences are due to rise from €50 to €100 on November 18.

Dr Gill said the frequency of serious injuries raised questions about whether the vehicles were fundamentally unsafe.

“Based on our experience, their arrival comes at a very high cost and the frequency of severe injury raises questions as to whether or not they are inherently, fundamentally unsafe,” Dr Gill said.

He said that over the past two years, children had been admitted with traumatic brain injuries from e-scooter-related falls “on more than a daily basis”. Most were aged between nine and 15, and “almost all” had not been wearing helmets.

The concerns follow a garda operation across Dublin on October 21, during which 122 personal powered transporters, including e-scooters, e-bikes, scramblers and Surron-type bikes, were seized.

Minister of state at the Department of Transport Seán Canney recently said that legislation was being prepared to redefine e-scooters as mechanically propelled vehicles, potentially requiring registration to identify their owners.

Registration is not currently required, and the proposals remain under discussion.