Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
775. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if compensation schemes are available for landowners who give access to their land to facilitate a rural walk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58967/21]
View answerWalking trails that traverse private land are generally provided on a permissive access basis. Compensation payments are not available for the provision of this permissive access by the landholder. However, my Department operates the Walks Scheme which contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.
On 29 September, I announced the 'approval in principle' of 31 new trails to join the Walks Scheme. This fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government and Our Rural Future to double the number of trails on the Scheme to 80 trails. These trails will be formally brought into the scheme by Local Development Companies who deliver the Walks Scheme locally and who will develop work plans for each of the individual landholders involved.
Once these trails are fully operational under the Scheme, I will examine the potential for the further expansion of the Scheme. An expression of interest process will be opened for new trails in advance of any further expansion of the scheme.
