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Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Questions (618)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

618. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will extend the pilot mountain access scheme to new areas in view of the fact that the original pilot areas were selected over ten years ago and that at time it was intended to extend the scheme to all mountain areas interested in it within a small number of years; the method by which new areas would be selected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36184/21]

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Written answers

The Mountain Access programme was first developed over a decade ago through Comhairle na Tuaithe to facilitate access to the uplands for recreational users. Two areas were selected to pilot the approach - one at Mount Gable in Connemara and the other in the MacGillycuddy Reeks in Co Kerry. Comhairle na Tuaithe later established a Mountain Access Project Steering Group, which was tasked with reviewing progress on the pilots and examining issues around a National Indemnity Scheme for landowners.

In June 2019, a new mandate was presented to Comhairle na Tuaithe which reinforces and strengthens its advisory role in relation to the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland. A Working Group was established to make recommendations on membership and working arrangements to ensure that Comhairle could deliver effectively on its renewed mandate. The Working Group proposed the establishment of a number of new subgroups, including one to replace the Mountain Access Project Steering Group, which had not been operational for some time.

The Sustainable Uplands Recreation Subgroup was established in May this year. It has been tasked with reviewing the Mountain Access Programme and facilitating its expansion. The group has met twice and has begun work on reviewing the existing Mountain Access Project Toolkit in order to support the expansion of the Programme to other areas. Through the work of this subgroup, I expect that Comhairle na Tuaithe will come forward with recommendations as to how the Mountain Access Programme can be expanded to other areas.

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