Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations for persons using horses and sulkies racing on public roadways; the rules under the Road Traffic Acts dealing with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9072/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​People riding horses and drivers of sulkies and other animal-drawn vehicles are obliged to comply with road traffic legislation, and are responsible for behaving in a safe manner, as are all road users.

There is at present no licensing regime for drivers of animal-drawn vehicles comparable to the system of driver licensing for mechanically propelled vehicles.

It is my understanding that, under the Control of Horses Act 1996, a local authority may declare an area within its territory to be a control area, and as such require that all horses in the area be licensed. A licence cannot be issued to a person under the age of 16.

In regard to races on public roads, there are proper mechanisms under the Roads Act 1993 for arranging races on public roads with the consent of local authorities and An Garda Síochána.

It is an offence to organise an unauthorised race on a public road.