Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2007
425 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there are grants available for the putting in place of public walkways through private land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8715/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no grants available from my Department for the putting of place of public walkways through private land.
In the context of implementing the National Countryside Recreation Strategy of Comhairle na Tuaithe, I have had meetings with farm organisations to discuss ways of moving forward with the implementation of the strategy. Payment for access is not under discussion. Development and maintenance of specific walks throughout the Country is what I have in mind and I am fully in agreement that there should be no cost burden on farmers from the maintenance of permissive ways open to the public at no charge.
I have time and again made clear my view that a local community based approach is the way forward where issues of access to the countryside arise. Where it is not possible to reach agreement, in a particular location, alternative routes should be explored and developed so that landowners' rights over access to their lands are not interfered with.
To ensure that a number of legal issues regarding land access for recreational use are addressed as a matter of priority, I have established an expert group, comprising a Senior Counsel and officials from the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and my own Department. This group met for the first time on Tuesday 20th February and I have asked them to report back to me by the end of April.
