Bye-laws must be introduced prohibiting people from bringing horses and horse drawn vehicles onto beaches and requiring horse drawn carts to have reflective lighting and markings.
This is the view of Independent councillor Terry O’Flaherty who called for such bye-laws during the recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee.
The use of horses with carts is not illegal on public roads but Cllr O’Flaherty said requirements must be introduced into existing legislation that carts and carriages have reflective lighting and markings, and that the minimum age of the driver should be 16+. This motion will now be sent to the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar for consideration.
Cllr O’Flaherty said a “bizarre situation” exists in Galway where “we have effectively banned dogs from our beaches but still allow horses and horse drawn carts on our beaches”.
She now wants City Hall to introduce a bye-law prohibiting people from bringing horses and horse drawn vehicles on to designated bathing areas.
“This problem mainly occurs on the Ballyloughane beach and could pose a danger if it is not dealt with,” she said. “There is also the problem of horses fouling the area and some of the owners do not clean up the mess left behind.”
