Revealed: Startling figure paid out in compensation in Mayo last year

Mayo County Council paid out more than €800,000 last year in compensation for trips and falls and damage caused by potholes.

The startling figures were revealed following a motion by South Mayo Independent councillor Patsy O’Brien.

The local authority forked out €803,842 in settlements in 2024 following slips, trips, and falls and footpath related injuries. The money was paid in relation to 18 cases.

Mayo County Council stumped up an additional €4,572 following 35 actions in relation to damage caused by potholes.

Mayo County Council said a particularly high settlement in relation to one case caused the figure to rocket. The money paid out in 2024 was more than double the annual average.

“In relation to the total figures for the 2024 settlements for footpaths, slips, trips, a settlement on one case which was significant has resulted in the particularly high figure for the yer, substantially higher than previous years which averaged €373,000 per annum,” said Martina Hughes, Mayo County Council’s head of corporate development and communications.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien said the conditions of footpaths and roads in the county must be examined.

He said he wants to know if ratepayers in the county will have to foot the bill for these settlements.

Cllr O’Brien said a case needs to be made to Government for funding to carry out improvement works that could mitigate against these high levels of claims. He said this will save money for Mayo County Council and make the county’s towns and villages safer.

In 2023, councils across the country paid out more than €54m in compensation for public liability claims – with the vast majority relating to slips and falls on footpaths.

The bill was a 15.7% increase on 2022 when €46.8m was paid out.

In 2023, there were 115 actions taken against Mayo County Council with a total of €669,562 paid out in settlements.