Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals arising from the report of Comhairle na Tuaithe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15016/07]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 695: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made with the development of a country walkways strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15150/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 695 together.

Comhairle na Tuaithe presented its report on a National Countryside Recreation Strategy to me in September 2006. The Strategy defines the scope and vision for countryside recreation and it sets out the broad principles under which sustainable countryside recreation can be managed into the future. It also sets out the tasks that should be undertaken to achieve this vision and recommends the actions needed to be taken and by which bodies.

Following my consideration of the report, I have taken a number of actions. Firstly, I have reached agreement with Fáilte Ireland and the National Trails Office regarding the employment of 11 Trail Managers. Their role will be to promote walking tourism in areas where there are clusters of suitable, accessible walks.

Secondly, my Department in consultation with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, Fáilte Ireland, Comhar LEADER na hÉireann and the National Way Marked Ways Advisory Committee, are identifying a further 30 looped walks and Way Marked ways for development in 2007. Fáilte Ireland has informed me that 15 of these will be underway by June 2007 and I have set aside funding of €1.5m in 2007 for this purpose. In this context, the Deputies should note that 14 looped walks have already been developed with the assistance of the Rural Social Scheme and my Department.

Thirdly, my Department is actively pursuing the possibility of using former railway infrastructure as recreational trails for walking, cycling etc. with the Department of Transport and Iarnród Éireann. Officials from my Department have met with representatives of Iarnród Éireann and CIE to discuss the possibility of using disused railway infrastructure around the country for recreational development as walkways, cycle paths etc. They confirmed that the only line abandoned and definitely available for development is Tralee to Limerick.

Meetings are also taking place with Comhar LEADER na hÉireann, which represents the LEADER companies to discuss with them the proposal for the use of abandoned railway lines.

Separately, discussions are continuing with Coillte and Bord na Móna to discuss the possibility of expanding the use of their lands for recreational purposes and I will continue to progress this matter.

Fourthly, to ensure that a number of legal issues are addressed as a matter of priority, I have established 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 my own Department. I have asked the group to report back to me by the end of this month.

Finally, meetings have been held with the interested groups to discuss ways of moving forward with the implementation of the Strategy. However, I want to make it clear that payment for access is not under discussion. What is being sought is a payment for the maintenance of specific walks throughout the country and I am fully in agreement that there should be no cost burden on farmers from the maintenance of permissive ways open to the public at no charge.

I recently attended a meeting with Comhairle na Tuaithe and my Department has drafted proposals in relation to the development and maintenance of both new and existing waymarked ways and looped walks which was circulated for observations to the members of Comhairle na Tuaithe in the last few days.

My view continues to be that a local community-based approach is the best way forward where issues of access to the countryside arise. Where it is not possible to reach agreement, in a particular location, alternative routes should be explored and developed so that landowners' rights over access to their lands are not interfered with.