Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the latest position regarding the draft strategy of Comhairle na Tuaithe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31287/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recommendations of the report of Comhairle na Tuaithe. [31216/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 58 together.

I am pleased to say Comhairle na Tuaithe agreed its Countryside Recreation Strategy at the end of August. It was presented to me in early September and I launched the report at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullow, Co. Carlow last week.

As the Deputies are aware Comhairle na Tuaithe comprises representatives of State bodies with an interest in the countryside, the farming organisations and recreational users of the countryside and is chaired by my Department. Comhairle na Tuaithe's strategy defines the scope and vision for countryside recreation and it sets out the broad principles under which Comhairle na Tuaithe recommends that sustainable countryside recreation can be managed into the future. All its members, with the exception of the Irish Farmers' Association, have endorsed the report.

Comhairle na Tuaithe's vision for countryside recreation encompasses a countryside, which welcomes all visitors who practise responsible use of the resource, and where the rights and responsibilities of both landowners and recreational users are respected. The report sets out the broad principles under which it recommends that sustainable countryside recreation can be managed into the future. It also set out the tasks which Comhairle na Tuaithe recommends should be undertaken to achieve this vision and recommends the actions needed to be taken and by which bodies.

I welcome the report and would like to put on record of this house my thanks to the members of Comhairle na Tuaithe for all of their hard work and dedication in coming to this agreement. Its membership is diverse and the organisations represented have their own individual views on the issues presented in the report but have arrived at a consensus on its contents. I will study the recommended strategy and will consult as appropriate with other Departments and public bodies on the wider recommendations in the report.

I intend taking a number of immediate actions arising from my initial consideration of the report. I am making €1.5 million funding available for capital work under the Rural Social Scheme and I am asking the implementing bodies, which are in most cases LEADER companies, to give particular priority to walkways and ancillary services. Fáilte Ireland has already identified a selection of looped walks which it has publicised in its brochure – Walking Ireland – and on its website. My Department in consultation with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, Fáilte Ireland and the National Waymarked Ways are identifying further looped walks and waymarked ways for development. Details will be made available over the coming weeks and months of the work required to bring these up to the best international standards. It is my intention to set aside a further €1.5 million this purpose.

The Rural Development package 2007-2013 offers a trebling of EU and National funding for rural development under a LEADER type programme. Three of my priorities under this programme will be: the development of recreational tourism including the development of facilities for walking, cycling, angling, pony trekking, bird watching etc and ancillary facilities such as car parking, and other services such as signage, village renewal etc.; the complementary development of the broader rural tourism package such as upgraded accommodation, food tourism and other services; and the development of small or regional food sectors to add significantly to the unique experience for our visitors.

My Department also is actively pursuing the possibility of using former railway infrastructure as recreational trails for cycling etc. with the Department of Transport and Iarnród Éireann. I have reached agreement with Fáilte Ireland for the employment of up to 10 Walk Managers under the Community Services Programme to promote walking tourism in areas where there are clusters of suitable, accessible walks. These Walk Managers will act as a contact person for walking tourists and will provide a wide range of support and advice.

The Deputies will be aware that Comhairle na Tuaithe agreed the key features necessary for countryside code development with a focus on the potential application of the internationally-recognised Leave No Trace initiative. A branch of Leave No Trace has recently been established in Ireland and I am pleased to announce that my Department will be supporting that organisation by allocating €30,000 towards the employment of a Strategic Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator will be involved in actively promoting the Leave No Trace message among the many countryside recreation groups around the country.

I have also allocated €90,000 (€30,000 per annum over the next three years) to Wicklow Uplands Council and Wicklow Rural Partnership to provide a network of access routes over private lands in areas of high scenic and amenity value in County Wicklow. This project is an example of how community based solutions can be found to issues such as access to the countryside and is very much in keeping with Comhairle na Tuaithe's recommendations. I see the project as a way of piloting some of the suggestions in Comhairle na Tuaithe's report and am very pleased to see that Wicklow County Council have joined my Department in funding the project.

Comhairle na Tuaithe has raised a number of legal issues to be addressed. These include that the Attorney General be requested to examine restating and/or reflecting in legislation the current common law position in relation to the protection of landowners' property rights where recreational access is allowed on their land along with a proposal that the Law Reform Commission be requested to make recommendation on the broad issue of access to the countryside for recreational users. I am concerned to ensure that these matters are addressed as a matter of priority. To expedite matters I am establishing an expert group, comprising a Senior Counsel and officials from the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and from my own Department to urgently advise on tackling each of the legal issues raised.