Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding walking routes, hill walking and rights of way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39320/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The development and maintenance of critical walking infrastructure is fundamental to the whole approach to facilitating access to the countryside for recreation and activity tourism purposes. The Wicklow Way is one of over 40 National Waymarked Ways that are the backbone of the walking product in Ireland. Wicklow is one of the first counties to develop an integrated representative management structure - "the Wicklow Way Partnership" - whose members are:

· Coillte

· Wicklow County Council

· Mountain Meitheal (Volunteer Trail Conservation Group).

· National Parks and Wildlife Service

· The Dublin Mountains Partnership (managing the Wicklow Way in County Dublin)

· County Wicklow Partnership (managing the trail on private lands).

Its aims include developing a multiyear plan for the strategic development of the Wicklow Way by agreement and pooling of resources and bringing the Wicklow Way to top international standard and recognition.

In that regard, it is important that, where possible, walking routes offer the user safe, secure and stimulating surroundings. To achieve that, it is important that routes are off road where possible with the agreement of the landowners concerned. However, all land in Ireland is in private or state ownership. Participants in recreation activities should be aware that there is no legal right of access to the Irish countryside. Those who enter onto land that is owned by others, for the purpose of recreation, do so due to the goodwill of landowners.

Ireland's Waymarked trails and the majority of other walking routes are "permissive access routes" that have been developed with the landowners' agreement; they are not public rights of way. Some Government and semi-state organisations encourage access to their lands for public enjoyment (e.g. Coillte), but even in these areas, access is permissive and the public do not have a right of access. Given the importance of continued improvement of the Wicklow Way, I have requested that discussions be initiated with local landowners to see if agreed access can be secured in respect of the section of lands referred to in the question.