A teenager has been hospitalised following a quad bike collision on a farm in south Kilkenny.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that gardaí attended the scene of a vehicle collision involving a quad bike on farmland at Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, at approximately 7:35p.m on Sunday April 13.

The male juvenile, who gardaí said was aged in his late teens, was taken to University Hospital Waterford for medical treatment following the collision.

The teenager reportedly sustained non-life threatening injuries as a result of the quad bike collision, but no casualties were reported by gardaí.

Separately, according to the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), the use of quad bikes has become more and more common on farms and forests, as well as for many other sectors including road works, airports, and military environments.

However, the IFA maintained that there has been a significant number of fatalities involving quads in recent times and the potential for a serious injury or fatality when using a quad was deemed as "high".

The main causes of serious or fatal injury associated with quad bikes, as defined by the IFA are:

Being thrown off a vehicle when it overturns or after loss of control;
Collisions with structures, trees, poles, other vehicles, etc.;
Being trapped/asphyxiated under an overturned machine;
Being drowned under a quad bike overturned in a water course;
Pedestrians being struck or run over by an quad bikes.

Quad bikes used in a public place require the driver to have a licence, therefore, the minimum age is 16 for light quads (350kg or less)with a maximum design speed of not more than 45km/h, otherwise the minimum age is 17.

If used on a public road, quads are subject to all of the regulatory controls that apply to other vehicles, i.e., they must be roadworthy, registered, taxed, and comply with all regulations mentioned below.

As of November 20, 2023, health and safety regulations governing the use of quad bikes in all workplaces mandate quad bike drivers to undertake a training course with a registered training provider.

The use of a helmet was also "generally" prescribed as a safety standard to adhere to.

Meanwhile a child remains in a critial condition in hospital, following a farm accident in Cork on Sunday, April 13.

The child, who is understood to be five years old, incurred life threatening injuries following a kick from a cow on the family farm in Minane Bridge, Co. Cork.

He was rushed to Cork University Hospital for medical treatment, but was since transferred to Beaumont hospital in Co. Dublin, where he is currently being treated.