501 active compensation claims made against Cork County Council

501 active compensation claims were being taken against Cork County Council as of December 31, 2020. The bulk of these relate to public liability claims, which totalled 466.

Figures regarding such claims against the council were disclosed at this week's full meeting of Cork County Council following a motion tabled by West Cork councillor, Joe Carroll.

Cllr Carroll requested that council members be provided with a breakdown of all compensation claims, including the number, type and total value of claims, if they were to be awarded.

Head of Finance, Lorraine Lynch, responded to the motion issuing the most recent figures available from the council’s insurers.

“We are not in a position to disclose the estimated value as that is sensitive information,” Ms Lynch stated.

Despite this, the top five types of claims and the figures relating to such were issued to councillors in attendance at Monday's meeting. 146 claims related to footpath slips and trips; pothole related incidents accounted for 120 claims, while 115 claims were made in relation to ‘road’. 44 claims were categorised as ‘other’, while there were 15 claims made in relation to floods.

Cllr Carroll had requested the information in order to see how Cork County Council rated in relation to compensation claims in other counties.

“It’s very important for us to know,” Cllr Carroll said, as he referenced the conditions of West Cork roads.

Carrigaline councillor, Seamus McGrath seconded the motion, noting that 501 active claims as ‘a lot of claims’. He noted the number of footpath slip and trip claims, requesting that priority be given to repairing trip hazards when reported.

Kanturk- Mallow councillor, Gearóid Murphy, also supported the motion stating that greater funding for footpaths would ‘go a long way’.

Chief Executive, Tim Lucey commented on the council’s insurers, stating: “IPB have always been our insurers and have served us well over the years”.

Mr Lucey also requested that the information be put into context, noting that while there were 120 pothole related claims, there is over 12,500km of road network across the county. He added that the council would like to reduce the number of claims and that they were ‘consitently working on risk assessment’.

Responding to comments on the motion, Cllr Carroll said the issue was an important one, “It’s very noticeable in towns that the footpaths have deteriorated and they’re not getting the same attention and wouldn’t be getting the same attention as they were when we had town councils.”