Dara Calleary
Question:540. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided for the creation of new hiking trails here. [41649/19]
View answerTuesday, 15 October 2019
Questions (540, 541)
Dara Calleary
Question:541. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding to the national trails office or similar bodies for the provision of bathroom and-or parking facilities in proximity to hiking trailheads will be provided. [41650/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 541 together.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. Sport Ireland Outdoors is a department of Sport Ireland that promotes standards and best practice in the development of walking, cycling and water trails. The remit of Sport Ireland Outdoors is focused on capacity building, advice and guidance. Sport Ireland Outdoors has no role in the provision of funding for the creation of hiking trails or ancillary facilities.
From a tourism perspective, my Department also funds Fáilte Ireland, the statutory body responsible for tourism development, including quality tourism product. As regards Fáilte Ireland support for hiking trails, I am advised that the agency does not currently have any direct investment platform for trail development or associated facilities such as car-parks or bathrooms. Nonetheless, I know that Fáilte Ireland has established a partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development on its Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, which comes under the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development. I understand that this scheme supports the development of new outdoor recreation infrastructure (including walking, cycling and water-based trails) and the maintenance and enhancement of existing trails and other qualifying infrastructure. Under the partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development, which administers this scheme, I believe Fáilte Ireland is due to contribute c. €15m of the overall funding available over four years, to be targeted specifically at visitor-focused investments for those trails and other outdoor recreational infrastructure with most tourism potential.
Question No. 542 answered with Question No. 537.