Meeting sought with Minister Ross over scrambler bike issues

By Mary Dennehy

A MEETING has been sought with the Transport Minister Shane Ross following a recent hit-and-run accident in Tallaght, which saw a woman in her fifties seriously injured by a scrambler.

Despite being on the community’s agenda for a number of years now, the use of scramblers on public roads and in estates continues to raise serious health and safety concerns for residents.

Last week, residents’ fears were realised when a woman in her fifties was seriously injured after an out-of-control scrambler mounted a pedestrian path on Kiltalown Road in Jobstown.

The woman, who was walking along Kiltalown Road with a young child at the time of the incident, was hospitalised – while the scrambler fled the scene.

As a result of last week’s accident, Independent councillor Deirdre O’Donovan, who is the chair of the Joint Policing Committee on South Dublin County Council, has requested a meeting with the Transport Minister, Shane Ross TD.

Cllr O’Donovan told The Echo: “I have requested a meeting with Transport Minister Shane Ross over the coming weeks to try to find a solution to the scourge of scramblers.

“As Chair of the Joint Policing Committee on South Dublin County Council I am only too aware of the danger posed by these bikes and the frustration felt by communities and Gardaí alike in trying to tackle it – it is raised at nearly every meeting we have.

“And, when Shane Ross got the Transport Ministry it was one of the first issues I raised with him.”

She added: “Obviously we need to look at all possible solutions – including possible legislative changes – but we can explore all of those when I meet the Minister and Department of Transport staff on the matter.

“I have already done a lot of work with Gardaí in relation to the issue because they cannot chase the bikes – this only increases the risk of injury to the driver and innocent bystanders like this poor lady in Jobstown last week.

“Recently I was walking my own children to school in Knocklyon when we were nearly driven off the path by a scrambler.

“This is a nationwide problem and something has to be done before someone dies.”

Investigating officers told The Echo that they are following a number of lines of inquiry however, no arrests have yet been made.

Anybody who witnessed the hit-and-run incident on Monday, August 22, at around 8.30pm or who has any information is encouraged to call Tallaght Garda Station on 6666000.