Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since becoming Minister for Rural & Community Development, I have provided a number of supports for the further development of the Beara Breifne Way walking trail, a long distance walking route which Fáilte Ireland believes could have the potential to compete with walking trails of a similar nature internationally.

Under my Department's Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), funding of €300,000 was provided to develop a trail plan for the Beara Breifne Way which included a trail audit, trail design, an interpretation framework, waymarking and orientation strategies, and environmental assessments to bring the project to a pre-planning stage. This trail plan outlined indicative costs to develop the existing trail to a world class walking standard.

I understand that Fáilte Ireland is establishing a working group, to include key representatives from the main stakeholders, with a view to bringing this project forward. I expect that this group will, as part of that process, consider the level of works required, the costs associated with such works and the potential sources of funding.

In addition to the funding provided under RRDF, my Department's Walks Scheme also supports the 12 existing national waymarked trails which make up the Beara Breifne Way. Under the Walks Scheme, the private landholders on these routes are contracted to undertake maintenance work on the sections of the trails that traverse their lands.

I have also supported a number of projects along different sections of the Beara Brefine Way through my Department's Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). For example, in 2021, €196,490 was allocated to extend the Beara bridleway and walking trail from Urhan to Ardgroom village and complete a loop in Teernahillane between Castletownbere and Allihies. In 2022, €30,000 was allocated to re-route part of the trail off-road near Tuosist in County Kerry.

I will continue to support the development of the Beara Breifne Way and other trails through my Department's investment programmes, and particularly through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. I know the local Rural Recreation Officers, who are funded by my Department, will also continue to support development in this vital area.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.

My Department invests heavily in trails throughout the country through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) and the Walks Scheme.

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 €129 million has supported 1,775 projects across the country.

My Department's Walks Scheme was launched in 2008 and is aimed at private landholders. It supports the development, enhancement and maintenance of walking trails which are approved by Sport Ireland and are listed on the National Trails Register. Under the Walks Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the trails that cross their land.

As part of the Walks Scheme, a ‘materials budget’ is supplied to participating local development companies to cover the cost of purchasing everyday materials for the landholder participants to undertake the works needed on their portion of the trails. Funding is also provided for once-off costs associated with small capital projects on Walks Scheme trails under the Walks Scheme Development Funding. In April, I approved funding of over €400,000 for such works on 43 trails.

I have no immediate plans to change funding arrangements under the Walks Scheme, or to change payments for maintenance works and payments to landowners.

I am aware that a small number of community trail management groups have expressed some concerns regarding the contents of a voluntary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was developed to clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of community groups and local development companies managing the walks scheme. This was developed in response to a recommendation in an independent review of the Walks Scheme Review and in line with a key action in Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the national outdoor recreation strategy.

This MOU, which is voluntary, was developed by a stakeholder group that included representatives from my Department, Fáilte Ireland, Sport Ireland, community groups, farming organisations and local development companies.

My officials have met collectively with the groups that have expressed concerns with this MoU. They have also agreed to meet each group individually in the coming months alongside their respective Local Development Company with a view to further exploring their concerns.

I acknowledge and appreciate the work of all the community trail management groups developing and maintaining walking trails all over the country. That is why, in addition to all of the supports already referenced, I announced almost €1m in grant funding in 2022 to further support the trail management groups. I will continue to keep their needs and the supports for walking trails under review.