No record or map for most public rights of way, watchdog finds

In one of the most famous and costly legal disputes over a right of way between the owners of Lissadell House (pictured) in Co. Sligo, barristers Constance Cassidy and Edward Walsh, and Sligo County Council, the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 there were no public rights of way across most of four routes through the historic estate.

Less than one-third of the country’s local authorities are meeting their statutory obligations to record and map public rights of way which allow access to many scenic parts of Ireland, according to the State’s planning watchdog.

A new survey by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) found just 11 of 35 development plans of city and county councils set out detailed records and maps of public rights of way to seashores, uplands, lakes, riverbanks and other places of natural beauty within their administrative area as required.