Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
2099. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when walks scheme payments will start issuing to landowners in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39015/23]
View answerThe Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholder receives a modest participant payment for to maintain their portion of the trail in line with agreed work plans. There are currently 68 trails with 2,354 landholders being supported on the Walks Scheme.
In September 2021, I announced approval in principle of 31 new trails to join the Walks Scheme, 19 of which have been added to the Scheme and work is progressing to bring the remaining trails on.
Approved trails are being formally brought onto the scheme by Local Development Companies (LDCs) who deliver the Walks Scheme locally. As part of this process the LDC works directly with the each landowner involved to develop an individual work plans for the proportion of the trail that is crossing their land. A proportion of the proposed workplans must be audited before the trail can be brought onto the Scheme.
Since approval in principle of the Keel Uphill and Downhill walk was given in 2021, the Rural Recreation Officer in South Kerry Development Partnership has identified additional landholders on this trail. This has slowed down the process of bringing the trail on to the Walks Scheme as workplans have to be developed for the additional landowners identified. Work is progressing and it is my understanding that the trail will be fully approved to join the Walk Scheme by January 1st. Participants payments will issue to the relevant landholders once this trail is approved.
