asked the Minister for the Environment the local authorities which have opened new public rights of way for walkers under Section 48 of the Planning Act, 1963; and if local authorities receive any special financial assistance or encouragement from his Department to use their powers in this matter.
Written Answers. - Public Rights of Way.
190.
Section 48 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, empowers planning authorities to compulsorily create public rights of way with a concomitant right to compensation under section 63 of the Act in certain circumstances. From returns made by planning authorities to my Department, no public rights of way were created under section 48 during the period 1983 to 1987 (the period for which returns are available). There is no special financial assistance made available to local authorities from my Department for this purpose.