Horse-drawn carriage operators in Dublin say the practice is "out of hand" and needs to be regulated, warning a lack of licensing is attracting inexperienced drivers and damaging its reputation.
The practice has operated without formal regulation since 2018, when Dublin City Council stopped issuing licences following a review of legislation.
The review concluded the relevant laws, dating back to 1853, did not empower the council to regulate horse-drawn carriage operators.
The warnings also come after recent incidents which have raised fresh concerns about safety and animal welfare.
Earlier this month, a Dublin man was convicted of animal cruelty in connection with a horse used for carriage work.
Separately in April, footage appeared on social media of a horse bolting on O'Connell Street. In the video, the animal could be seen colliding with a bus, falling to the ground, and continuing to run uncontrolled through the city centre.
Horse-drawn carriage operator Patrick 'Padser' Harris is among a group of traditional carriage drivers, also known as 'jarveys,’ who are calling for regulations to brought back into place.
"It's out of hand at the moment, but it really will get worse. Somebody will get hurt. Very, very badly," Mr Harris said.
Long-established jarvey Patrick 'Padser' Harris is calling for regulations to be brought back
Many long-established jarveys say the deregulation of the trade has led to complaints from residents, animal welfare groups, and tourists.
Mr Harris said some newer operators are also overcharging visitors for carriage rides.
"People are coming back to us and saying it to us, and it seems to be affecting here," he said.
Similar complaints can be found on tourism review website TripAdvisor, where some recent reviews allege visitors were charged more than expected for carriage rides in Dublin.
The licensing system for jarveys fell away after legal concerns emerged about Dublin City Council's powers under the Dublin Carriages Act of 1853.
While local authorities elsewhere can regulate horse-drawn carriage operators under the Local Government Act 2001, Dublin's position is complicated by the existence of separate legislation governing carriages in the capital.
Jarvey Kevin Keeler said operators previously had to undergo inspections of their horses, and that regulation ensured that those involved were responsible for their animals and passengers.
"We would have had to bring the horse and carriage into Dublin Castle at one time," Mr Keeler said.
Jarvey Kevin Keeler said operators previously had to undergo inspections of their horses
"Then it was handed over to Dublin City Council and they would have come out, inspected the yard, inspected the horse, inspected the carriage to make sure there was brakes on the carriage, to make sure that the rubbers were up to scratch," he added.
Calls for regulation are not limited to carriage operators.
My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue, which provides care for horses that have been injured while in the trade, is also campaigning for new rules.
Co-founder Martina Kenny, who sits on Dublin City Council's Animal Welfare Oversight Committee, said both horses and tourists could be put at risk if the current situation continues.
"The bylaws and the Road Traffic Act need to be updated, and it needs to be updated very fast," Ms Kenny said.
"Our worries is not only for the horses but for the tourists. Is a tourist going to have a really bad accident or somebody dies? Is that what Ireland is waiting for? Dublin is waiting for?" she added.
Co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue, Martina Kenny says tourists could be put at risk if the current situation continues
While Ms Kenny is calling for regulation, some animal rights campaigners argue the practice should be phased out entirely.
The campaign group Free Dublin Horses has called for Ireland to follow cities such as Barcelona and Montreal, which have banned horse-drawn carriages over animal welfare concerns.
The issue may soon return to the political agenda, with Sinn Féin planning to bring forward legislation aimed at regulating horse-drawn carriages in the coming weeks.
Asked what action the Government is taking, the Department of Transport said a targeted consultation with stakeholders is planned for 2026.
In a statement to Prime Time, the department said it anticipates a draft General Scheme of the Horse Drawn Carriages Bill for Hire or Reward could be developed by late 2026 or early 2027.
For jarvey Padser Harris, change cannot come soon enough.
"I have grandsons, but at the moment I wouldn't like them to take it over the way things is. It needs to be cleaned up very, very badly."
A report on jarveys from Josh Crosbie and producer/director Lucinda Glynn is broadcast on the 16 June edition of Prime Time at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
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