Thirty-one public liability claims were made in Mayo in 2013 with €888,000 paid out in compensation, according to new figures released by the Injuries Board.
Slips, trips and falls were by far the main cause of public liability accidents and, nationally, €44 million in compensation was paid out in 2013.
The average award in Mayo is higher than the national figure, standing at €28,647, compared to the national average of €25,120.
Nationally, the average public liability award has increased, year on year, by almost 11 per cent.
In addition, over a two year period, the number of awards of over €100,000 increased from just two in 2011 to 18 in 2013.
Commenting on the report, chief executive of the Injuries Board, Patricia Byron, said people with responsibility for public areas should invest in basic prevention.
“On the basis of our claims analysis, it is clear that by simply maintaining public pathways and floor surfaces and by carefully securing loose goods, furniture, et cetera, many of these claims could be avoided or minimised. Prevention must become the key.”
