Three people have died in incidents associated with or related to e-scooters on Irish roads this year.
Minister of State with Responsibility for Road Safety Jack Chambers revealed the figure on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.
He said the figure was "concerning" but insisted new regulations published earlier this summer will improve safety.
"Legislation was brought through earlier this year to provide a regulatory framework around e-scooters," he said.
"We're at the end of a European Commission process on the regulatory context for e-scooters.
"We will have a cap of 20km/h for each e-scooter.
"There'll be a maximum weight for it as well, and there'll be minimum requirements around having front and rear lights [and] breaks."
Enforcement campaign
Minister Chambers said there is a road safety risk around e-scooters.
E-scooters are to have a maximum speed cap of 20km/h, and operators can also receive penalty points as part of the new regulations.
Minister Chambers said there will also be weight restrictions on them.
"There's going to be an extensive campaign in November on the safe usage of e-scooters," he said.
"Reminding people not to be using them on pedestrian areas where they're prohibited or footpaths."
Minister Chambers said the regulations will be accompanied by a major messaging campaign next month.
"There'll be a system of fixed charged notices and the Roads Policing Units of An Garda Síochána will play an important role there as well," he said.
"A strong messaging campaign... will be rolled out in November to promote their safe usage.
"We'll have to have an ongoing review of our own regulatory framework around e-scooters if there are any unintended consequences.
"I have a concern where we have 3% current usage, where we've had 48 people injured and three people have died, and that [usage] is going to rise to 12%.
"There is a road safety risk here that we have to work with our agencies and partners and An Garda Síochána on," he added.
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