Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the rural recreation scheme will be announced; the number of projects that were funded via this scheme since 2017 to date in 2018; the action he has taken or plans to take in respect of increasing the number of participants in the rural walks scheme as per the programme for partnership Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/18]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure. In 2017 the scheme facilitated the development of numerous greenways, blueways, walks and other trails across the country. A total of €13.6 million was allocated to 251 projects under the scheme in 2017.
Lists of all projects funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in 2017 can be found on my Department’s website at http://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/rural-development/rural-recreation/.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme will continue to support important local, regional and national rural recreation projects in 2018 and I plan to launch the 2018 Scheme shortly.
My Department also administers the Walks Scheme which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland’s walking trails. The scheme involves landholders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. Participating landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken, in line with agreed work plans.
The scheme currently covers 39 trails, with payments made to approximately 1,900 landholders to maintain those trails.
The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development include a commitment to increase the number of trails covered by the Walks Scheme and my officials are working towards this objective. I intend to initiate a comprehensive review of the scheme’s operation this year in order to determine how best to expand the scheme and maximise the impact of the resources available to me. I anticipate that this review will be completed before the end of the year and that it will help identify priority walks that can be included in the expansion of the scheme.
