Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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465. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the schemes his Department has rolled out in recent years; his plans to encourage and reward farmers to allow walking trails on their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17973/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers numerous schemes for the agri-food, forestry and marine sectors and provides services across a wide range of areas under the remit of the Department. Details of all schemes and services available are outlined in my Department’s publication “Schemes and Services 2014-2020”, copies of which are available from any of the Department’s offices around the country or from my Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie. Copies of the booklet are also available at some Teagasc offices.

Where possible application dates for schemes are included in the Schemes and Services booklet. Otherwise detailed terms and conditions and application dates are announced and publicised in advance of scheme operation dates.

I am aware that my colleague, the Minster for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht, has responsibility for the Walks Scheme which is a trail maintenance scheme where landholders receive support to maintain sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. A Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to expand the Walks Scheme, and plans in this regard are due to be developed in 2016 subject to available funding.