On 4 December 2019 my Department announced the first phase of the Walks Scheme expansion, with the addition of 10 new trails. The intention at that time was for these trails to come onto the scheme over the course of 2020,
Payments to landholders for the maintenance of walks under the Walks Scheme are based on a programme of works agreed with each landholder. These work programmes are developed with the landowners and a proportion of these must be audited before all of the work plans on a particular trail can be approved.
This process for the 10 new trails which were approved for inclusion in the Walks Scheme at the end of 2019 has been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions since early 2020. However, a new on-line auditing system to allow for the approval of work plans on the new trails has been developed and piloted. Based on the success of the pilot, I am confident that this new on-line system will expedite the process.
I anticipate that the first of the walks to have been audited will be fully approved to join the Walk Scheme in the coming weeks, with the remainder following thereafter. Payments will issue to participants as these walks are approved.