John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the supports provided through his Department in the development of the Nore Valley walking route which passes through Kilkenny City; if he envisages a role for such walking routes in his Department's countryside recreation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42635/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the negotiations with landowners who have expressed concern regarding public access along the soon to be opened national walking route in the river Nore valley in County Kilkenny. [42915/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 98 together.

The River Nore Valley Walking Route will cover the approximate 35 kilometres between Kilkenny City and the village of Inistioge. The project is a jointly-funded partnership between the LEADER agency Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development (BNS) and Kilkenny County Council, through the River Nore Valley Walking Route Committee. The project committee has representatives from and is also actively supported by Fáilte Ireland, other development agencies, leisure interest clubs and local community groups. The Board of BNS Rural Development has allocated €92,000 of LEADER+ funding towards the completion of a series of walking route projects in its region of Kilkenny and southeast Tipperary.

The project is supported by a team of four workers from the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), which undertake the actual construction work on the Nore Walk. This team of local farmers live in the area of the walk and thanks to the project are employed in developing a major support to rural tourism in the region. The project is an example of the supports that the Department has made available to rural tourism interests to develop walking routes in the country.

The development committee has been very happy with the support they have received from most of the landowners on the route. The committee's policy has been to develop the walk as far as is possible, by securing permission from landowners to cross their property. As the promoters have put in place a comprehensive insurance and maintenance regime for the walk, the 'permissive path' approach to developing the route has been largely successful.

There are a small number of landowners, who have declined permission for the route. The promoters are endeavouring to negotiate with these landowners to reach a mutually satisfactory accommodation. The promoters have been aware of the concerns of landowners and have been prepared, where possible to address these. If in the near future, permission cannot be secured on the basis of permissive path status, the promoters will look at all other legitimate options to allow the successful completion of the route by spring of 2007 in time of the next tourist season.

Nationally, I do envisage a role for walking routes in the Countryside Recreation Strategy, which I received from Comhairle na Tuaithe in September and I am taking a number of immediate actions arising from my initial consideration of the report. I have made €1.5 million funding available for capital work under the rural social scheme and I will ask implementing bodies, which are in most cases Leader companies, to give particular priority to walkways and ancillary services.

My Department is also actively pursuing the possibility of using former railway infrastructure as recreational trails for cycling etc. with the Department of Transport and Iarnród Éireann.

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, Comhar LEADER na hÉireann and the National Waymarked Ways Advisory Committee are identifying further looped walks and waymarked ways for development.