February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN – The lack of regulations to control Dublin’s horse-drawn cab trade, whose operators are not required to have insurance and can charge whatever fees they like, has been has been described as a “crazy and dangerous situation” by Councilor Eamonn O’Brien, chairman of Dublin Corporation’s Traffic Committee.
There is growing concern among Gardai about teenagers moving into the trade without any training and unable to control the horses.
“Most of these contraptions are not insured or taxed and there are no safety standards or pricing structure. What happens to tourists in the event of an accident?” O’Brien asked.
“It is a very serious issue. This is a growing industry with increasing numbers of tourists in the city and it appears anyone can get a horse and cab and set themselves up.”
Gardai are investigating a recent incident when a horse bolted and the cab smashed into a car on St. Stephen’s Green. The cab driver was only 14 years old.
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The doyen of Dublin’s horse and cab trade, Bernard Fagan, who is one of the few to carry public liability insurance, has backed the call for regulation of the trade.