Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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12. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of interest in the national walks scheme, currently open for expressions of interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20663/24]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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29. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware of the St. Declan's Way Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028 launched recently (details supplied); her views on same, in particular in relation to how best to grow the offering of the route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20662/24]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development what funding is available for walks and trails from her Department; if she will be announcing further funding shortly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20893/24]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme will be launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20405/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 29, 32, 35 and 36 together.

The outdoor recreation sector presents huge opportunities for us here in Ireland and I have put in place a range of initiatives to help us drive the sector forward.

I launched Ireland’s first ever National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, in November 2022. It provides a strategic, collaborative framework to facilitate the consolidation and sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation sector.

The strategy addresses the challenges facing the sector as well as putting structures in place to allow us enjoy the many economic, social and health benefits of outdoor recreation

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors recognises the value of outdoor recreation amenities, not just for individual and community well-being, but also for the tourism impact that amenities such as walking trails can have on the local economy. Together with Comhairle na Tuaithe, my Department will deliver a national conference in June 2024 in support of the strategy roll out and to ensure stakeholders continue to inform its delivery.

Among the 95 actions in the strategy, there is a commitment to increase the number of trails covered by my Department’s Walks Scheme to 150.

My Department’s Walks Scheme contracts land-holders to undertake maintenance work on national waymarked ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. Significant progress has been made towards achieving this increased target. In January last I provided approval in principle for the addition to the scheme of 62 new trails across 17 counties. This brings to 142 the number of trails that have approval in principal to join the scheme. This is a significant increase from the 40 trails that were on the scheme in 2019 and demonstrates the level of interest in the sector.

Once approved, there is a process involved in bringing individual landowners onto the scheme. To date, 73 trails are now fully on the scheme supporting 2,427 land-holders. Landowners on 4 more trails will be joining the scheme very shortly and work is ongoing to bring the remaining approved trails onto the scheme as soon as possible.

This expansion reflects the success of the Walks Scheme to date in delivering high quality walking trails. In recognition of the importance of the scheme to both walkers and landowners, I recently launched another call for new trails to join the scheme. An expression of interest process for new trails to join the scheme is now open and will close in October.

I would encourage potential applicants such as trail management committees to apply through their Local Development Company for trails that are eligible for inclusion in the scheme.

I’m pleased to note that St. Declan’s Way, as referred to by Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, is part of my Department’s Walks Scheme. There are 46 landowners across Waterford and Tipperary receiving modest payments to maintain this trail based on agreed individual work programmes.

My Department has, through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, supported St. Declan’s Way with funding of over €70,000 for 3 projects over the last five years. This is in addition to receiving over €139,000 under the Walks Scheme.

I was delighted to officially open St. Declan’s Way in September 2021 and I know that my colleague, Minister Mary Butler TD, launched the St. Declan’s Way strategic plan in recent weeks.

This strategic plan was financed by Waterford Leader Partnership and my Department through LEADER funding. The plan sets out steps to raise the profile of this historic pilgrim route to greater national and international prominence. It outlines a detailed roadmap for the trail’s development, including enhancing trail infrastructure, improving off-road paths and launching targeted marketing campaigns aimed at capturing the growing interest in walking tourism.

I am committed to continuing to support the development of this trail through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Walks Scheme. Furthermore, I know the local Rural Recreation Officers funded by my Department will also continue to support its development.

My Department also invests heavily in trails throughout the entire country under the Outdoor Recreation Scheme or ORIS as it is also referred to, and through a strategic partnership for the enhancement and maintenance of the trails on Coillte land.

ORIS provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of over €113 million has supported more than 1,700 projects across the country.

At the end of March last, I was delighted to announce the approval of 151 successful projects to the value of over €4.1 million under measure 1 of the 2023 scheme. This was in addition to 50 projects with funding of €2.3 million approved last year through the Project Development Measure under ORIS 2023. Applications submitted under measures 2 and 3 of the 2023 scheme are currently being assessed. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement very shortly on the successful projects under these measures.

I can assure Deputy Griffin that an application submitted by Kerry Local Authority in respect of the Milltown - Kilderry Looped Amenity Walk is one of the measure 3 ORIS projects under consideration. The applicants will know the outcome of their application in the coming weeks.

I can also confirm to Deputy O'Sullivan that I have again secured funding for another iteration of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. My officials will be reviewing the scheme criteria in the coming months in anticipation of the launch of a new round of funding later this year. It is my intention at this stage to launch the 2024 scheme in September.

To conclude, I want to commend all of the stakeholders involved in the sector, particularly the landowners and community groups who are at the heart of every trail. The amenities they have developed give us all an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and also attract huge visitors both national and international. The economic benefits alone mean that the investment in these trails is money well spent.