Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the stakeholder engagement relating to horse-drawn carriages has been satisfactorily completed; and when he plans to bring forward legislation to allow local authorities to regulate horse-drawn carriages for hire or reward, the associated insurance, registration, horse welfare and other related issues. [43545/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is already aware, the development of legislation of this nature, which involves the repeal of legislation which pre-dates the foundation of the State, is complex and technical and so I am unable to provide a definitive timeline for the completion of this work. This issue spans the responsibilities of several Departments and levels of government.

Regulations for horse-drawn carriages for hire or reward should be aligned with any horse welfare obligations imposed by local authorities and, therefore, horse-drawn carriages for hire and reward should be regulated by local authorities, which is the intention of the current draft primary legislation. Once the current process of stakeholder engagement has been satisfactorily completed, I will seek Government approval for the detailed drafting of a Horse-Drawn Carriages Bill. This is required before it can be introduced to the Oireachtas with a view to its eventual enactment.