Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
586. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department or agencies under its aegis have proactively identified possible walking trails for inclusion under its walks scheme. [41644/19]
View answer587. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the general location and length of each walking trail included under the walks scheme in tabular form. [41645/19]
View answer588. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department collaborates with the creation and maintenance of walking trails under the remit of his Department’s walks scheme. [41646/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 586 to 588, inclusive, together.
My Department administers the Walks Scheme which was originally launched in March 2008. The Scheme was an innovative response to facilitating the development and maintenance of 39 of Ireland’s key walking trails. The Scheme includes 1,962 landholders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Waymarked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans. These trails are part of a larger list of trails which are registered by Sport Ireland which comes under the remit of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The table lists the walking trails currently on the Walks Scheme and the length of each trail. The length refers to the full distance of the trail and not just the portion maintained by the landholders under the scheme. It should be noted that some walks cross Local Authority boundaries and the relevant portion of the walk is recorded under each of the respective county headings. There are, therefore, more than 39 individual section of walks listed below.
The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to increase the number of trails covered by the Walks Scheme. In line with these commitments, funding for the scheme was doubled in Budget 2019 - from €2 million to €4 million - to allow this expansion to proceed.
In February of this year, I invited Expressions of Interest for the inclusion of additional trails in the scheme that meet specific qualifying criteria. These include the walks meeting a sufficient standard to be included on Sport Ireland Trails register. To date, 18 Local Development Companies have submitted 57 Expressions of Interest to my Department.
These Expressions of Interest are being reviewed and I expect to be in a position to announce the first tranche of trails to be added to the scheme shortly. There is no closing date for Expressions of Interest at this time, and interested parties can continue submit proposals for additional trails to be included in the Walks Scheme through their Local Authority or Local Development Company.
|
WALK |
LOCATION |
Length of Walk in Km |
|
Burren Way |
CLARE |
40.21 |
|
Wood Loop Ballyvaughan |
CLARE |
1.89 |
|
Black Head Loop |
CLARE |
12.01 |
|
Cliffs of Moher |
CLARE |
12.00 |
|
Sheeps Head Way |
CORK |
125.59 |
|
Beara Islands |
CORK |
26.93 |
|
Beara Cork |
CORK |
101.20 |
|
Duhallow Way |
CORK |
43.00 |
|
Whiddy Island Walk |
CORK |
1.86 |
|
Bluestack Way |
DONEGAL |
64.00 |
|
Sliabh Liag |
DONEGAL |
3.90 |
|
Slí Chonamara |
GALWAY |
9.00 |
|
Western Way |
GALWAY |
17.28 |
|
Kerry Way |
KERRY |
131.98 |
|
Beara Kerry |
KERRY |
24.19 |
|
Cosán Cuas na nEighe |
KERRY |
1.69 |
|
Carrountoohill |
KERRY |
6.63 |
|
Nore Valley |
KILKENNY |
18.50 |
|
Freshford loop |
KILKENNY |
8.00 |
|
O Gormans Lane |
KILKENNY |
4.00 |
|
Slieve Bloom Way |
LAOIS |
8.36 |
|
Miners Way Leitrim |
LEITRIM |
1.84 |
|
The Táin |
LOUTH |
40.00 |
|
Western Way Mayo |
MAYO |
15.25 |
|
Clogher Loops |
MAYO |
1.28 |
|
Burrishoole Loop 1 |
MAYO |
7.05 |
|
Burrishoole Loop 2 |
MAYO |
9.09 |
|
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail |
MAYO |
14.70 |
|
Offaly Way |
OFFALY |
7.02 |
|
Suck Valley Way |
ROSCOMMON |
105.00 |
|
Rinn Duinn |
ROSCOMMON |
5.50 |
|
Miners Way Roscommon |
ROSCOMMON |
30.00 |
|
Sligo Way |
SLIGO |
9.64 |
|
Miners Way Sligo |
SLIGO |
19.32 |
|
Eamon a 'Chnoic |
TIPPERARY |
9.48 |
|
Birch Hill |
TIPPERARY |
5.8.33 |
|
Knockalough (Red Hugh) |
TIPPERARY |
6.40 |
|
Slieve Feilim Way |
TIPPERARY |
0.53 |
|
East Munster Way |
TIPPERARY |
1.60 |
|
Lough Derg Way |
TIPPERARY |
11.27 |
|
Tipperary Heritage Way |
TIPPERARY |
17.90 |
|
Devils Bit |
TIPPERARY |
0.43 |
|
Kilcommon Pilgrim Trail |
TIPPERARY |
2.26 |
|
Wicklow Way North |
WICKLOW |
24.00 |
