IRISH pet owners are set for a boost as the National Transport Authority is proposing a “new uniform policy” that could allow pets to accompany passengers.
The new proposal could allow people to bring small pets on public transport as long as they pose no danger to other passengers on board.
Transport for Ireland has a ban in place preventing small animals from entering public transport – except for guide dogs and assistance animals.
And anyone who breaks these rules may be fined.
But this may change with the National Transport Authority’s new proposal for the carriage of pets on Transport for Ireland (TFI), bus, rail and Luas services.
The new move would allow people to bring dogs, cats and small animals on public transport while travelling – as long as they pose no danger to other passengers.
Draft recommendations state that small pets would be required to travel in an appropriate box, basket or other container.
And the pet must remain on its owner’s lap for the duration of the journey.
Animals also must be kept away from other travelling pets to ensure the safety and comfort of other customers and pets.
Meanwhile, larger dogs would have to be kept on a lead and fitted with a muzzle while on board.
However, operators would retain the discretion to refuse entry where services are deemed too busy to accommodate the animal safely.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs will continue to travel on all TFI services without restriction under the new proposal which is now open for public consultation by the NTA.
The draft measures published this week set out a framework that would permit small animals on board when specific conditions are met.
The NTA has invited members of the public to make submissions through its online portal.
And the new proposal has been met with mixed feedback so far.
A number of submissions have argued that pets should be allowed on buses, noting that similar arrangements are in place in many European countries and in the UK.
But others say that allowing animals on public transport could get cars off the roads as pet owners would be freed from only having the option to drive.
