Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
607. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the extent to which she hopes to continue to support recreational walk schemes throughout the country and in County Kildare over the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4294/24]
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 landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans. In addition, my Department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of amenities such as walking trails.
There is already approval in principle in place for 80 trails to be part of the Walks Scheme. Currently 69 of these trails are formally on the scheme. Work is ongoing by the Local Development Companies, who deliver the Walks Scheme locally, to bring the remaining trails onto the scheme as soon as possible.
A key action in Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027 is to expand the Walks Scheme from 80 trails to 150. In response to this action, in February 2023, I announced a call for expressions of interest for new trails to join the Scheme. The closing date for receipt of applications was 20 October 2023 . Under this call 63 expressions of interest were received. However, no expression of interest was received in respect of trails in County Kildare. All applications have been considered and I expect to be in a position to announce details of the new trails that will join the scheme shortly.
Trails that are eligible for inclusion in the Walks Scheme are those that are registered on Sport Ireland’s trail register. All trails for Co. Kildare currently registered with Sport Ireland are managed by Coillte or Waterways Ireland, and are therefore not eligible under the Walks Scheme as it is aimed at private landholders.
There may be other walking trails in Co. Kildare which run through private lands that are not included on Sport Ireland’s trail register. In order to be considered under the Walks Scheme, the Community Trail Management Organisation or Local Development Company should engage with Sport Ireland Outdoors to register a trail. Further information can be found on the Sport Ireland website.
