Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 795: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to make funding available for the provision of country walks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38826/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs operates a Walks Scheme for the development, enhancement and maintenance of waymarked ways and other priority walks. This Scheme has been developed within my Department in consultation with Comhairle na Tuaithe. It was introduced in 2008 and currently operates on 18 trails. There are currently 1,091 participant landowners on the scheme.

Funding of €1.12 million was provided for the scheme in 2008 and expenditure to date in 2009 amounts to €1.288 million.

The evidence is that the Scheme is working well an in this context, there is a significantly higher standard of maintenance on trails where the Scheme is in operation. Whilst the farmers and landowners who participate in the Walks Scheme are responsible for routine maintenance work, it is generally participants on the Rural Social Scheme that undertake maintenance work such as the installation of styles and bridges.

The number of walks available is constantly increasing and details are available on the Coillteoutdoors and the DiscoverIreland websites. Figures provided by Fáilte Ireland are very encouraging with over 500,000 walkers visiting Ireland in 2008. These figures also indicate that the numbers of walkers visiting the country are increasing year-on-year, despite the difficulties in some areas of tourism.