Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I want to acknowledge the work he put in to setting this up when he was Minister in this Department.

Covid-19 has reminded us all of the importance of outdoor recreational amenities for our physical and mental well-being. My Department provides substantial funding for outdoor recreational infrastructure through programmes such as the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, the walks scheme and the rural regeneration and development fund. My Department also works with State agencies, such as Coillte and Fáilte Ireland, as well as other stakeholders, to facilitate the strategic development of the sector.

Comhairle na Tuaithe, the Countryside Council, is central to this work as it brings the outdoor recreation stakeholders together in an advisory role. In June 2019, Comhairle na Tuaithe was given a new mandate to strengthen its role in the development of the outdoor recreation sector. Dr. Liam Twomey was appointed as chair of Comhairle na Tuaithe and he has driven the new mandate with the support of the council members. Earlier this year, the group commenced work on the development of a new national outdoor recreation strategy to provide a vision and framework for the growth of the sector. I will bring this strategy to Government when it is completed next year.

A range of other initiatives are being advanced by the council which will be captured in the annual report of the group to be agreed at the next meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe. My Department is also establishing an interdepartmental committee to help progress recommendations coming from Comhairle na Tuaithe. This group will be particularly important in the development and implementation of the national outdoor recreation strategy. My Department continues to provide substantial support for the sector with expenditure of approximately €11 million on the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme this year. At the end of last year, an additional ten trails were approved for inclusion in the walks scheme. An external review of the scheme is also expected to be completed in the new year. This will pave the way for the further expansion of the scheme to 80 trails.

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