Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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494. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an increase to 80 in the number of walks in the walks scheme and an increase in the allocation to €4 million which is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40432/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A key feature of the Walks Scheme is that it involves land-holders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. The land-holders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.

A total of 39 trails are currently covered by the scheme and the number of participants on the scheme stands at 1,904. Payments made by my Department in 2017 in respect of the scheme will be in the region of €1.8 million and will be disbursed through the Local Development Company network.

The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to double the number of walks covered by the Walks Scheme. My officials are working towards this objective. However, as significant consultation will be required, both with land-holders and other stakeholders, it is unlikely that any increase in the number of walks covered by the scheme will be implemented until 2018. The provision of additional funding to support the scheme will be a matter for consideration as part of the annual Estimates process.