Landowners to be better protected from claims

A strengthened national scheme to indemnify private landowners against claims from recreational users for injury or damage to property is expected before the end of 2017.

Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring anticipates that the scheme will be agreed in a number of pilot areas later this year.

His Department is working with the State Claims Agency in relation to the development and implementation of the scheme.

Mr Ring said the Occupiers Liability Act 1995 already provides significant protection to landowners with regards to recreational users on their land.

In addition, an insurance policy is held by the National Trails Office which indemnifies all landowners and occupiers whose property or land is crossed by or adjoins a recreational trail, provided the trail has been inspected and approved by the National Trails Office.

The cover extends to liability attaching to the land or property owner arising from a user of the recreational trail sustaining accidental bodily injury or property damage when on the land of the owner for recreational or leisure activities connected with the designated trail.

Mr Ring was responding in the Dáil to a question from Meath West, Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín.