Senator Higgins welcomes today’s announcement Minister will remove 30th November deadline to Register a Right of Way

Speaking today Senator Higgins said “Over the past year I have raised the 30 November deadline and the legal problems it will present with the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a number of occasions and I also proposed amendments and drafted a Bill to highlight this issue.”

“While it is a pity it has been left to this late stage, however I am happy common sense has prevailed and the Government are considering introducing legislation to address this issue before 30 th November and the problems it would create. Time really is of the essence now and I look forward to engaging with Minister Humphreys around her proposal and seeing the detail of how the matter will be dealt with in practice.”

“Addressing this matter is important to prevent legal confusion as has been highlighted by the Law Society of Ireland and protecting rights of way, many of which have been used for generations, is also really important from a heritage, accessibility, and community perspective. Moreover, as I have previously highlighted at the Climate Committee there is a real potential to strengthen and reimagine these rights of way in the future as part of a network of connectivity in rural and urban Ireland.”

ENDS//

Note to the Editor: Senator Higgins proposed a five-year extension to register rights of way, both in amendments to a Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the drafting of her own Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2021.
For further information: Sárán Fogarty, 083 184 0496