A popular skatepark in Cork is threatened with closure unless a new insurance policy can be found.
Dublin's only purpose-built skateboard park has already been forced to close because it failed to acquire new public liability insurance.
Ramp'n'Rail in Drumcondra, which opened for business two years ago, was forced to close on July 17th with little over a week's notice from its insurance brokers that no renewed insurance policy was forthcoming.
Mr Mike Keane, founder and director of Ramp'n'Rail, then spent weeks informing members from all over Ireland that the park was closed.
"In the last two years we had 8,000 people signed up for membership, including kids from Donegal and Northern Ireland."
The skatepark under threat in Cork is Woodwrx, which was opened by Mr Niall Hassett and Ms Louisa Heckett in November.
"Ever since the skatepark opened there have been 20 times more skaters and the whole community has built up," said Mr Hassett.
"In four years of business, we've had zero claims related to skateboarding.
"We are flipping every stone we can in an effort to find new insurance. If we can't get insurance renewal, the kids loose, we loose, suppliers loose and jobs get lost."
Chris Broderick (13), from Douglas Street, Cork, a regular skater at Woodwrx for the last two years, said: "Our parents love the skatepark because we're supervised and are in off the streets. If it closes hundreds of us will be out on the streets because we'll have nowhere else to skate."
Mr Hassett agreed that the numbers of kids skating on the streets would increase if his park has to close. "The Government is going to be paying out more on street claims."
Mr Keane, of Ramp'n'Rail, also agreed. "There'll be a serious, serious increase in the numbers street skating because the kids will have no choice. What would parents prefer; to have their kids in a safe park or on the streets?"
Mr Patrick Best and Ms Susan McGilligan, of Southside Skate Ltd, were forced to abandon their plan to open a skateboard park in south Dublin two months ago when they failed to get insurance.
"We were just short of opening. We had the building and the planning permission and were at the last hurdle - getting insurance. But we couldn't even get a quote.
"The insurers consider it high risk even though the sport has little to no claims.
"We were told it was because of September 11th and because we live in such a litigious society," said Ms McGilligan.
In response, Mr Dermot Jewell, chief executive of the Consumers' Association, said: "It is stopping consumers taking part in what is a growth sport worldwide. This is a classic example of a step backwards."
It appears that only skateparks which are part of larger facilities offering other activities, such as go-carting or BMX riding, can get insurance coverage. Ramp City in Santry, Dublin, and the Quarry skatepark in Co Kilkenny both said they had insurance because they have insurance for the other activities they offer.
Waterford City Council negotiated a deal for its new skatepark, (located in the council's regional sports park) with Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance Ltd, which covers local authorities. They had to provide fulltime supervision, establish strict safety rules and form a skate club to get the cover.
"It wasn't easy but we got there," said Mr Paddy Power, the council's director of services.
"But with 200 members and 500 membership applications in just two weeks, it has been an unreserved success."
Mr Tony Holland, director of the Quarry, said he has received numerous calls looking for advice from people interested in building skateparks. However, his insurance broker had asked him not to pass his contact details as he can't get a quote.