Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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877. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposed green walkway for south Kerry; if consideration has been given to providing a maintenance payment for the farmers involved in return for their taking care of the section that passes through their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11373/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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My Department administers the Walks Scheme which was launched in 2008. This is a maintenance based scheme whereby landowners receive modest payments to maintain sections of walking trails that traverse their lands. Due to budgetary constraints it is not possible to develop new walks, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, under the existing Walks Scheme at this time. However, there continue to be 39 trails covered by the Scheme. In 2014, payments to participants exceeded €1.8m. The number of participants on the scheme currently stands at 1,896.