Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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394. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement legislation regulating sulky driving and improve the management of horses and ponies in view of an incident (details supplied). [52928/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The use of sulkies on the public roads is governed by the Road Traffic Acts which impose an obligation on persons engaged in any activity on the public roads, including the driving of sulkies, to drive their vehicles with due care for other road users and not to indulge in dangerous driving of the vehicles.

In addition to the Road Traffic Acts, local authorities also have powers under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 to introduce bye-laws regulating activities involving horses in their respective functional areas.

My Department wishes to raise the awareness of the critical importance of good horse welfare amongst those using sulkies and the owners and keepers of trotting horses.  In this regard, my Department recently published a tender seeking to engage a provider of a relevant education programme to assist in this process.  A key element of the programme’s intent will be to encourage participants to move from the practice of competing on roads and to encourage engagement in regulated Irish Harness Racing Association activities.