Walking Strategy Document (PDF; 3.7 MB) - Mayo Walks

Although the access issue remains unresolved nationally, it should not effect trail developmentlocally in Mayo, which may proceed cautiously with appropriate consultation of landowners overplanned developments.InsuranceAt present, the owners and occupiers of private property crossed by an approved nationalwaymarked way must be indemnified against any negligence claims by a recreational walker foraccident, damage or injury sustained while walking on private property. This indemnity is primarilyprovided through a policy administered by Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance Ltd. The validityof the liability insurance through IPBMI is dependant on NWWAC/ISC being able to confirm thatthe route is safe. As such all national waymarked ways are inspected annually and the responsibleauthority/local management committees are expected to have a maintenance programme inplace for the walking route to ensure the route is maintained. The owner / occupier of any privateproperty is further protected in Irish law under the provisions of the Occupiers Liability Act 1995.Under the Act, the duty of care to a recreational user is the same as to a trespasser. The owner oroccupier is required to refrain from intentionally injuring persons or damaging their property, oracting “with reckless disregard” for their safety.Most recreational trail developments in Ireland have depended on the permission and goodwillof both public and private landowners to develop walking routes on, or through their property.A permissive way is not a public right of way but a route that can be used by the public withthe permission of the landowner. The responsible authority or management committee normallyestablishes public liability insurance where all landowners/occupiers are indemnified againstinjury resulting from use of the walking route and a landowner may withdraw this permissionwith reasonable notice.SafetyIssues of walkers’ safety are of paramount concern. The development of off-road walks is thereforepreferable to on-road walks which have the added safety concern of traffic. Off-road walks arenot however without their safety concerns and education programmes for walkers engagingin these walks are essential. Simple walking safety leaflets such as that produced jointly by theIrish Sports Council (ISC) and the Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI) 13 could go along waytowards informing walkers of the various necessary precautions and planning procedures prior toundertaking a walk.13Walk Safely leaflet available to download at: http://www.mountaineering.ie/mci/safety/Walkers_Safety.final.pdfMayo Count y Walking Strategy & Strategic Ac tion Planp11