asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider introducing legislation to prohibit horse-drawn vehicles other than cabs from being used in the centre of Dublin city during peak hours by the year 1970, approximately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Horse-drawn Vehicles.
12.
The prohibiting of horse-drawn vehicles in the central city area of Dublin is a matter which would fall to be dealt with by traffic bye-laws made under section 89 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
I understand that the Garda Commissioner is at present preparing bye-laws which it is hoped will be in operation by the end of the year and which would replace the Dublin Traffic Bye-laws made in 1937; in these bye-laws it is proposed to provide for the exclusion of horse-drawn vehicles, except cabs, during peak hours, from clearways and an area in the city centre to be defined. The local authorities concerned will, of course, have to be consulted.
My consent to these proposals will be required and, before making a decision, I will take all representations made to me following the publication of the Commissioner's proposals into account.
Will the Minister have regard to the fact that a number of dairies in this city have a very large proportion of their fleet drawn by horses? If they are restricted in movement in the suburbs in the morning session of the clearways, it will have a very serious effect on their business.
As I said in the last sentence of my reply, I shall take all of these matters into consideration before I give my decision on any such proposed bye-laws.