Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2012
159 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way trails are covered by the walks scheme; his plans to extend this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21027/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Walks Scheme was launched in March 2008 on the recommendation of Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council). It represented an innovative response to the need to develop additional quality walking trails and to addressing the long-standing impasse regarding access to private lands for recreational purposes. Many trails have now been developed with the permission of private land-holders and farmers. The key point of the Scheme is that it brings in land-holders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on the trails in line with agreed work plans. The average Walk Scheme payment is €1,057 per participant per annum. In 2011 payments to these land-holders amounted to €1,909,468. The Walks Scheme is currently operating on 40 trails being managed by 16 Local Development Companies around the country. There are now 1,805 landowners participating in the scheme. The full year cost of implementing the Walk Scheme in 2012 is €2.6m. Due to funding constraints, it will not be possible to add any new participants to the scheme in 2012. Any future expansion of the Walks Scheme will depend on the availability of additional funding.
