IT hasn’t gone away you know.
Over a decade after nappies for horses legislation came into force for jaunting cars in Killarney, trails of dung can still be occasionally found on the streets and roadways of the town.
The use of the equine sanitary devices is a key element of the Kerry County Council bye-laws for the operation of horse-drawn hackney carriages and it is an offence to operate without a dung catcher.
But there have been complaints in recent months that dung is beginning reappear on the streets with the route along Mission Road – linking the jarvey stand to the national park at Knockreer – a particular concern.
It is believed that the problem might be down to the fact that the dung catchers can overflow when they are not emptied frequently.
The issue was raised this week by Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Niall Kelleher, who asked council officials what steps have been taken to ensure the streets are kept horse dung free.
He said well over 90 per cent of jarveys are fully compliant with the legislation but there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
The council said the dung can only be emptied in the bins provided specifically provided for that purpose and jarveys have been reminded of their obligations in that regard.
Killarney Municipal District added that officials contacted hackney operators on separate occasions in 2019 in relation to dung on the streets.
“The veterinary department of Kerry County Council inspected dung catchers in July 2019 and again in conjunction with the National Parks of Wildlife Service on August 2019,” management said.
Cllr Kelleher said he was not satisfied the answer he received adequately addressed the question he raised and he asked for a full report to be provided at the next council meeting.
Meanwhile, a call for consideration to be given to the development of a separate road for jaunting cars along Mission Road has been referred back to Kerry County Council by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Cllr Donal Grady had asked the local authority to write to the appropriate authorities requesting permission to open a second road for jaunting cars in order to improve traffic flow.
“It we have to knock a few trees, so be it. We have to get the jaunting cars off that road, especially in the mornings when people are in a hurry,” Cllr Grady said.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland said the council would be required to design an appropriate scheme and then apply for funding.
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