Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:522. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount the walks scheme costs per annum by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31354/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 11 July 2018
Ceisteanna (522)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department administers the Walks Scheme which was originally launched in March 2008. The Scheme was an innovative response to facilitating the development and maintenance of 39 of Ireland’s key walking trails. The Scheme currently includes 1,905 landholders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Waymarked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.
Payments to landholders are disbursed through 16 Local Development Companies, who operate under a Service Level Agreement with the Department in respect of the delivery of a range of recreational services and the implementation of the Walks Scheme. Local Development Companies are also responsible for the purchase of materials used on the Walks in the Scheme.
The cost of the scheme on an annual basis is in the region of €2.6 million. The table below outlines the costs by county for the implementation of the Scheme in 2017. The costs include participants and materials payments, the cost of 12 Rural Recreation Officers (RRO) who are employed by Local Development Companies and are integral to the operation of the scheme, and administration fees to the Local Development Companies. Not all Local Development Companies administering the scheme engage an RRO.
The figures provided below include a contribution of €60,000 by Fáilte Ireland towards the cost of funding the 12 RROs.
|
COUNTY |
Walks scheme Cost 2017 |
|
CLARE |
€131,757 |
|
CORK |
€819,139 |
|
DONEGAL |
€130,511 |
|
GALWAY |
€96,966 |
|
KERRY |
€371,442 |
|
KILKENNY |
€82,471 |
|
LAOIS |
€64,526 |
|
LEITRIM* |
€2,097 |
|
LOUTH* |
€47,727 |
|
MAYO |
€288,178 |
|
OFFALY* |
€19,381 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€192,621 |
|
SLIGO |
€103,958 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€173,848 |
|
WICKLOW |
€101,979 |
|
Total |
€2,626,601 |
* LDC without RRO or €5k contribution from Fáilte Ireland