Source: Government of Ireland
Under the Walks Scheme, modest funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the walking trails that cross their land. Additional funding for small-scale capital works on these trails is being announced today.
Among the successful projects include:
- Slí Chonamara, Co Galway – Trail Upgrade and Repair – €10,000
- Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail, Co Mayo – Path and fencing improvements – €10,000.
- Duhallow Way, Co Cork – Walking bridge replacement, fencing replacement, crossing stile and information lectern installation – €10,000.
- Kilmacoliver Woodland Loop, Co Kilkenny– Surface upgrades and improving accessibility – €10,000.
- Rerrin Loop Bere Island, Bere Island, Co Cork – Surface improvements with installation of new signage and waymarkers – €10,000.
- Waterford Estuary Coastal Path, Co Waterford – Installation of location identification signage, replacement of information board – €10,000.
The full list of approved projects can be found here.
Embracing Ireland’s Outdoor, National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2027
Launched in November 2022, Ireland’s first-ever National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027: Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors provides a strategic, collaborative framework to facilitate the consolidation and sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation sector.
The Strategy will see the development of a more coordinated approach to outdoor recreation on a national and local level through the development of County Outdoor Recreation Plans and the establishment of County Outdoor Recreation Committees and Stakeholder Forums.
The Walks Scheme
The Walks Scheme facilitates the development and maintenance of key walking trails by private landholders. Under the Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the walking trails that cross their land.
The Scheme, which is operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development in conjunction with local development companies, already has 2,797 farmers and landholders participating.
The scheme is administered by 22 Local Development Companies (LDCs) who deliver the scheme in their area on behalf of the Department. Funding is also provided to Local Development Companies for the management of the scheme and the upkeep of the trails.
The Department funds 23 Rural Recreation Officers (RROs) in these LDCs, with a contribution from Fáilte Ireland, to assist with the delivery of the Scheme and support other rural recreation initiatives at a local level.
There is currently approval in principle for 164 trails to be included on the Walks Scheme. To date, 138 trails have been brought onto the Scheme with work underway to bring the remaining trails onto the Scheme as soon as possible.
For more information on the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, see here.
Walks Scheme Development Fund
Maximum €10,000 funding for small-scale capital works on trails already supported through the Walks Scheme