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

Tourism continues to be a shining light throughout County Cork. Walking tourism in west Cork is worth €14 million to the local economy and is growing from year to year. There are some spectacular walks, including the Beara way, Sheep's Head way and Seven Heads way, as well as Mizen Head, to name but a few. Some 695 landowners, mainly farmers, maintain these west Cork trails for the public to enjoy and benefit from. West Cork Development Partnership has successfully administered this walks scheme for many years but it only has two part-time recreation officers to oversee up to 695 existing landowner participants. In 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 a successful walk scheme, be it the Beara-Breifne Way or other trails under the West Cork Development Partnership, at least four full-time rural recreation officers are needed. Will the Taoiseach 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 last Friday, to organise a meeting immediately with the aim of creating a solution to this?

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