Mr. J.P. Mulherin:

The just transition fund is funding the midlands trail network. It is all on Bord na Móna land and it does cover a number of counties. As the Senator has said, Galway is not covered by that, but we need to look at the broader picture around the development of trails. There is a walk scheme operated by the Department that funds landowners to maintain trails that traverse their land. The outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme develops trails. Although the just transition fund is very much focused on a particular part of the country – that would not be decided by this Department or Fáilte Ireland – we need to focus on all the other opportunities that exist. We have rural recreation officers in most counties around the country and these are working with landowners to develop trails.

We have funding options through the outdoor recreation scheme so there is a number of different players and avenues for funding these trails. There are several trails already within Galway as part of the national trails register and if there are other ones that are interested in becoming a part of the walk scheme or need investment through the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, the local authority and the local development companies are there to support that.