Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made with the Mountain Access Project since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37868/12]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to provide insurance or an indemnity scheme to landowners who allow hill walkers walk their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38414/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1119 and 1125 together.

The Mountain Access Project is currently implementing a pilot Mountain Access Scheme at two locations, Mount Gable in Connemara and Carrauntuohill in Co. Kerry. There are 94 landholders associated with the pilot scheme at Mount Gable. The scope of the scheme at Carrauntuohill requires review as it is not feasible to progress a pilot scheme there in isolation from the rest of the MacGillcuddy Reeks. Subject to the availability of funding, it will be expanded to include an area of approximately 100 square km stretching from the Gap of Dunloe in the east to Glencar on the West. Discussions with landowners and other stakeholders is ongoing.

As mountain access areas are by their nature sensitive habitats, great care must be taken to ensure that proposed developments do not generate negative consequences and lead to environmental degradation and habitat destruction. It is clear that some upland areas and mountains are already suffering damage from recreational activity and a properly constructed and funded Mountain Access Scheme offers an opportunity to address these matters.

A requirement of the proposed scheme is that participating landowners are provided with an indemnity, to protect against any potential claim arising from an accident or injury to a hill walker. Negotiations with the farming organisations on the scope and scale of such a scheme are underway and the scheme cannot proceed without their agreement. Such a national indemnity scheme could significantly improve access to the countryside, generate potential for tourism and recreation - related job creation and associated development opportunities in rural areas.

A list of additional candidate mountain access areas is currently being compiled and assessed and there is strong demand from local communities and some landowners for these to progress. The timing and further roll out of the scheme is dependent on the further availability of funding.