Who Let The Dogs Out - NTA Ignore Concerns As To Pets On Public Transport
Sept 1 2026
NTA recent proposal to permit pets across all public transport raises serious concerns. While we at Rail Users Ireland welcomed the consultation as a possibility to place order on the current free for all, the NTA has gone all in with a proposal which includes no controls or restrictions. There are serious concerns as to passenger safety, hygiene and animal welfare.
The NTA as its stands has failed to deliver a public transport system suitable for Ireland's needs, the conditions many passengers have to travel in are unacceptable for humans, adding pets into the mix is a receipe for chaos.
Maybe the NTA should focus on fare paying passengers instead of wasting time on consultations which won't improve performance, capacity, journey time or safety?
Submission Made By Rail Users Ireland to NTA, March 2026
Welcome this initiative as it will provide clarity and to codify some of the practices which have been accepted but undefined.
That said the concept requires a more structured approach accounting for operational realities to ensure passenger safety, comfort and that of the animals carried is protected. We note and stress that the primary goal of public transport is to move people and nothing in the proposed changes should in any way reduce capacity during busy times. We acknowledge that many passengers have fear/anxiety around large dogs and this must be considered. In making this submission we have reviewed the rules in place in several European countries to ensure best practice is applied.
0. Service animals including those in training should have unrestricted access. Proper identifying badges, coats or other clear marking must be worn.
1. No animals other than service animals should be permitted to travel on a public transport service during morning and evening peak hours and any other defined period of high demand, e.g. concert, sporting events. These timings should align with existing rules on bicycles and align with rules on Northern Ireland Railways. In the interests of safety and well being of the animal and maximisation of available capacity for passengers.
2. No animals others than service animals should be permitted to travel in any railway restaurant carriage where food is being served. This is consistent with UK practice. In the interests of public health.
3. For larger animals, in line with practice on the continent a ticket should be required. This would be 25-50% of the adult fare. Space is at a premium on all services and should be accounted for as the dog is taking up space of fare paying passengers. This would also provide data on number of animals carried.
4. Staff supported by updated bye laws must be empowered to refuse travel or disembark any animal in their reasonable opinion is a danger to passengers, is distressed or not in compliance with the requirement for a muzzle or within a suitable carrier/box or where the owner/responsible passenger fails to supervise the animal.
5. The size of a small animal should be clearly defined by weight and/or size of the box
6. Responsibility. It is suggested to define a minimum age for a passenger responsible for an animal
7. Only one animal per passenger
8. Limitations on the types of animals which may be carried may be required, e.g. poultry is typically excluded in most European countries
9. We fully support the requirement for small animals to at all times remain within a suitable box/carrier. We fully support the muzzle requirement on all non service animals. These are essential in our opinion to public safety.
10. If requested to do so in the interests of passenger comfort the responsible passenger shall move with the animal to another part of the public transport vehicle if requested to do so.