Local Government (Control of Horse-Drawn Carriages) Bill 2026: First Stage

Deputy Máire Devine

I move:

That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the law relating to the control of horse-drawn carriages and other horse-drawn vehicles within the former Dublin Metropolitan Police District, as provided for by the Dublin Carriage Act 1853, the Dublin Amended Carriage Act 1854 and the Dublin Amended Carriage Act 1855, that equates to most of the administrative area of Dublin City Council and parts of the administrative areas of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council and, for that purpose, to repeal those Acts so as to enable the making by any of those Councils of bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001 in respect of horse-drawn carriages or other horse drawn vehicles, to amend section 199 of that Act; and to provide for related matters.

Horse carriages in Dublin city are presently governed by three Victorian-era Acts, while the rest of the country is not. These Acts effectively prevent Dublin City Council from making and enforcing modern by-laws to regulate carriage operators, licensing, safety and insurance, placing passengers, pedestrians and motorists in peril. Carriages to let or hire operate mainly around heavily trafficked tourist areas like St. Stephen's Green up the road and my area in the Liberties. The Department of Transport has been aware of this legal lacuna for at least seven years but nothing has been done. Stakeholders, including the reputable carriage operators, animal safety advocates, local residents and An Garda Síochána want this sorted.

Sinn Féin's Bill will appeal the Dublin Carriages Act with a 90-day period for Dublin City Council, DCC, to enact new by-laws, enabling DCC to ensure carriage operators are reputable, and most importantly, safe. Additionally, this legislation will allow local government to introduce by-laws to deal with the disposal of dung. The constituents in Dublin South-Central and the at least 1.5 million visitors to the Liberties area are dealing with streets full of dung, as DCC stopped accepting it last year for disposal. These simple changes are long overdue. It is dangerous. Residents are not just frustrated by the dung but also by the antisocial behaviour and mistreatment of horses by unlicensed operators.

The Department has been aware for years that the rules and enforcement around Dublin's horse carriage industry are conflicting, outdated, inconsistent and inadequate. Dublin's inner city needs this legal gap to be closed, which our Bill will achieve.

Deputy Mark Ward

Dublin has a long-standing cultural tradition of proper urban horsemanship. Horse-drawn carriage rides are a well-known part of the south inner city and in and around the Liberties. It goes back centuries. In fact, I was going through the 1911 census and I was very surprised but delighted to see I had relations back then who were horse-drawn carriage drivers in and around Dublin. It is disappointing to see this tradition being undermined by gaps in regulations and archaic Victorian legislation.

Right now, we have licensed carriage drivers who meet Dublin City Council's standards and requirements under the old by-laws working alongside unlicensed carriage drivers. This has led to a Wild West situation, where unregulated, irresponsible carriage drivers are operating in our city. We have all seen the terrifying video of a terrified horse going down O'Connell Street during rush hour. We have also seen tourists being ripped off by unscrupulous carriage drivers overcharging them. It is not uncommon now to go into Temple Bar at 2 a.m. - not that I would be in Temple Bar at 2 a.m. but I have seen the videos of it - and see a horse bringing drunken tourists from one part to another. This does not sit right with me on many levels. There have also been reports of illegal activity, including drug dealing on these horse-drawn carriages.

Right now, if you want to drive a horse in Dublin city and pick up passengers for a fare, all you need is a horse and carriage. You do not need a licence, there are no regulations around horse welfare and nobody checks on the condition of the carriages. We need regulations now to put manners on these cowboys. Without proper oversight, both animal welfare and the upkeep of our city will suffer. I and Deputy Devine have met with responsible horse-drawn carriage drivers who want to be regulated. They care for their horses and are supported by animal welfare groups. I meet with them regularly and they tell me they fear a pedestrian, passenger or horse will be killed on our streets if action is not taken.

Dublin City Council also has a lot to answer for. It has allowed a lacuna to develop. Instead of supporting the responsible horse-drawn carriage drivers, DCC has made things more difficult. It has placed planters on the road where carriage drivers park on St. Stephen's Green. Next time you walk around St. Stephen's Green, you will see where the horse-drawn carriage drivers are and the planters put there to make things more difficult for those drivers. Our councillor on DCC, Kourtney Kenny, is working hard to resolve this.

Government committed to regulating this industry back in 2019. It is now 2026, and nothing has happened. That is why Sinn Féin has introduced this legislation today and seeks Government's support. We want to see proper governance of horse welfare, Dublin city streets and safeguarding of Dublin's culture.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 1.28 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 2.08 p.m.

Sitting suspended at 1.28 p.m. and resumed at 2.08 p.m.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Oct 2026