Agriculture Minister raises concerns over horse‑drawn vehicles on Irish roads

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon has voiced concern about the “complex” issue of horse‑drawn vehicles operating on public roads in Ireland.

Heydon told the Dáil that he has written to Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, urging action on road safety and animal welfare. A working group of senior officials from the three departments has been convened to scope out the problems.

There is currently no dedicated national legislation for horse‑drawn vehicles; they fall under the Control of Horses Act 1996 and parts of the Roads Act and Road Traffic Act, enforced by An Garda Síochána. In Dublin, Victorian‑era laws restrict Dublin City Council from creating modern by‑laws, leaving passengers, pedestrians and motorists at risk.

Traditional carriage drivers, known as jarveys, have called for regulation, citing animal‑welfare complaints and tourist overcharging. Sinn Féin TD Marc Ward introduced a bill this month to curb “irresponsible” use of horse‑drawn carriages in Dublin, describing the situation as a “Wild West”.

Transport Minister O’Brien said existing legislation is under review and that initial scoping work on the Horse‑Drawn Carriages for Hire or Reward Bill, first drafted in 2019, is underway. He expects a draft to be ready later this year or early next year to ensure legislative consistency nationwide.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Fatih Maraşlıoğlu / Pexels.