A NUMBER of questions have been raised in the Dáil recently concerning sulky racing, road safety and the welfare of horses being kept in urban areas. Most of these questions referred to the death of an in-foal mare known as ‘Anne’ earlier this month, who collapsed on the N4 near Ballyfermot after a sulky race on Dollymount Strand. She was abandoned by her owner and later died at UCD Veterinary Hospital.

On Tuesday, February 12th, Fine Gael TD Barry Ward asked Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon if he was aware of this incident and if he would make a statement about sulky racing on public roads.

The minister replied that while animal welfare is a key priority for him and his government, the primary responsibility for the health and welfare of equines lies with their owners and keepers. He also said that the use of horse-drawn carriages and sulkies on public roads is governed by the Roads and Road Traffic Act, and is a matter for the Minister for Transport.

Labour TD Robert O’Donoghue asked the Minister a similar question the following week, to which he reiterated these points and further stated that his department and authorised officers undertake appropriate enforcement action when breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 are identified. He also stated that the Animal Welfare Grants programme provided over €4,000,000 to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses in December 2025.

Commitment

On the same day, Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckely asked the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien if he was aware of the misuse of horses and carriages on urban roads in Dublin and if he had plans to reform the regulations which govern the use of horses and carriages on public roads in Dublin.

The current law which governs this practice dates back to the Dublin Carriage Act 1853 and, while a commitment was made in 2019 to draft new legislation in this area, these efforts were suspended during the pandemic. Minister O’Brien replied that his department “remains committed to progressing legislation that will replace the Dublin Carriage Act 1853”.

On Thursday, February 19th, Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews raised the issue of the persistent neglect of horses in urban areas to Minister of State for Agriculture Timmy Dooley in the Seanad, citing the death of ‘Anne’ and the poor state in which horses are kept across Dublin city. In response, Deputy Dooley pointed out that the Department has spent €2,000,000 on urban horse welfare projects since 2021, with a further €170,000 budgeted for 2026, and that these projects are designed to educate young people about horse welfare and relevant statutory compliance.

Dooley also pointed out that the Control of Horses Act 1996 applies to horses being kept in urban areas and that the use of sulkies is a matter for the Roads and Road Traffic Act and the Minister for Transport. He then emphasised Fianna Fáil’s commitment to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and pointed out that his department gave €4,000,000 to charities involved in horse welfare in 2025.

On the same day these questions were raised, My Lovely Horse Rescue charity announced on their social media channels that one of their founders had attended a meeting in Leinster House to discuss the future regulation of horse-drawn carriages in Dublin.