Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tourism continues to be a shining light throughout County Cork. Walking tourism in west Cork is now worth €14 million to the local economy and is growing from year to year. We have some spectacular walks, including the Beara way, Sheep's Head way, Seven Heads walk and Mizen Head walk, to name but a few. A total of 695 landowners, mainly farmers, maintain these west Cork walks for the public to enjoy. West Cork Development Partnership has successfully administered this walks scheme for many years but it has only two part-time recreation officers to look after the 695 existing landowner participants. For a similar scheme in Leitrim, where 25 landowners are involved, there is, rightly, one full-time rural recreation officer to administer the scheme.

For the future of the successful walks scheme, be it the Beara-Breifne Way or other routes under the West Cork Development Partnership, at least four full-time rural recreation officers are needed. Will the Tánaiste work with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, and the many County Cork Oireachtas Members who attended a Zoom meeting on the issue this morning, to organise a meeting with the aim of working towards a solution on this crisis issue for the greater benefit of tourism and farmers in west Cork?

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