A call has been made for parents to be held responsible and fined in cases where children are misusing e-scooters.Speaking in the Dáíl, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said there is a “massive lack of responsibility” being taken by parents for pre-teen children. “I do think there should be fines involved in relation to this,” he said. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill told him “we are in broad agreement on the issue”.Speaking during Dáil health questions, she confirmed a HSE public health report on e-scooter-related injuries in children and young people is to be prepared by the end of this month.It follows the revelation that six children were admitted to intensive care and on life support in Temple Street Hospital because of e-scooter use in the past two weeks.A teenager in Co Carlow died last week after falling from an e-scooter.They described the number of serious brain injuries in children recently as unprecedented and an epidemic that is out of control.Carroll MacNeill said in light of the incidents, deputy chief medical officer Prof Ellen Crushell has written to HSE national director of public health Dr John Cuddihy seeking an initial public health report on e-scooter-related injuries in children and young people. “That report is intended to clarify the scale of the issue, the impact on health services and whether any recent public health assessment has been requested.”Germany at a crossroads: football, political frustration and the far right Listen | 41:19The deputy chief medical officer wants the report by the end of July, allowing flexibility if additional data is required, she said.Carroll MacNeill added she was in ongoing engagement with Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and his officials “to ensure that health, transport, and road safety policy remain aligned as micromobility usage continues to grow”.Tóibín had asked for data about the number of incidents, their locations and the ages of those involved.The Minister said that was something hospital accident and emergency departments did not track, but the public health report would assess the scale of the issue and “give weight to any further actions to be taken by the Department of Transport”.The Aontú leader said “we do have a crisis in this country” and he had seen “children as young as 10 and 11 whizzing around in gangs, oblivious to the directions of the road, directions at roundabouts, flying on paths in public parks as well ... These vehicles are being misused around the country and it is leading to a public health crisis.”He said “parents need to take responsibility”, as he called for fines to be introduced.“It is important to focus on the outcome of these accidents and the fact that many of these injuries are brought to the grave.”The Meath West TD said it was time to consider the registration of these “power vehicles that can travel at speed”.“No one would think that a person should be able to get on a motorbike without training, without being able to use it, without being at the right age and without registration and insurance.”He asked the Minister to “use your influence at Cabinet on the registration of vehicles” and said it “would make a significant difference”.Carroll MacNeill said she had spoken to Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney and “he is very exercised, as is the Minister for Justice. We have to try take policy steps that are appropriate. If any child saw the impact of an acquired brain injury and what their life might look like in the future, I wonder if they might reflect on their use of them.”