Four years after Mountaineering Ireland commissioned a report that concluded Croagh Patrick needed a €1.5 million conservation plan, a local group plans to appoint a consultant to design the conservation works.
The group, which includes local authority, church, tourism, community and commonage farmer representatives, has launched the first phase of measures to make the Co Mayo mountain safer.
A map marking the pilgrimage route on the 764m-high mountain, new signage and information boards, as well as “counters” to determine numbers using the site, have been introduced.
The group’s chairman, Martin Keating, Mayo County Council’s head of environment, said “liability” issues were a priority.
“There is an interdepartmental group at national level looking at an indemnity scheme for upland areas,” Mr Keating said.
“We held a positive meeting with department officials last Friday to highlight the urgency of introducing the indemnity scheme. Our immediate priority now is the appointment of a consultant and funding is already in place from the west Mayo municipal district for this.”