Cork County Council settles €7m in claims for injuries on public footpaths

The average paid out over a five-year period was around €1.4m

The public infrastructure in Mallow, is simply not fit for purpose, says Eoghan Kenny.

Cork County Council has settled claims worth almost €7m for injuries sustained on public footpaths in the past five years, figures show.

Despite the number of claims falling significantly in recent years, the amount paid out remained above €1m in 2022 and 2023.

The average over the five years was around €1.4m, according to the data.

The figures were released to Labour councillor Eoghan Kenny via a Freedom of Information request, and he said they demonstrate that action needs to be taken to prevent trips and falls on Cork’s footpaths.

“As the [local] election draws near, you will hear many perspective candidates seeking election or re-election saying that it is not good enough,” he said.

“We need to go further than that. We need a definitive independent audit across the county footpath infrastructure and a cost to bring them back to code.”

The first year for which the records stretch back to, 2019, saw both the highest number of footpath claims settled and the highest amount paid out at 79 claims and €1.86m respectively.

The following year saw a further 70 claims settled and €1.69m paid out.

The number of claims almost halved in 2021 to 42, with €930,362 paid out. 

This pattern was replicated in 2022 and 2023, at 44 and 49 claims, respectively.

However, the data shows that the average paid out under these claims has risen in recent years.

In 2019, the average payout for injuries sustained on a road path stood at €23,647. 

However, in 2023, the average payout had risen to €27,260. 

The total amount paid between the start of 2019 and the end of 2023 was €6,973,650. 

Data for the first quarter of 2024 is not yet available.

Roads budget

In its annual budget, Cork County Council said that its roads budget had increased for 2024 but warned of its capacity to meet the public’s expectations across the board on all the areas under its remit. 

It added that investment last year went towards footpath repair in Bandon and Fermoy.

“Cork County Council is committed to working hard to meet the needs of its citizens,” it said.

“However, it is never possible to meet the considerable level of demands and expectations and despite the dedication and the commitment of our staff, the demand for services is well beyond our capacity to respond.”

The Labour councillor had asked for a breakdown of the injury claims settled by the electoral division in which the injuries occurred.

However, Cork County Council said that such records giving this breakdown do not exist.

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Mr Kenny said the millions spent were a “damning indictment” on the state of the footpaths across Co Cork.

He added: “We’re not looking for gold-plated runways, just good, honest, safe paths for pedestrians whether they have a buggy, wheelchair, mobility aide or not,

“The public infrastructure in Mallow, is simply not fit for purpose.

“This is due to a lack of funding from central government. 

"We need targeted, direct investment in public infrastructure, in particular for wheelchair users, people using prams, and older people.”