Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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2694.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an application has been received from a company (details supplied) to enable it to continue to provide maintenance to an iconic trail and cover its administrative costs; the response of her Department to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32780/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A request to cover the administrative costs of the trail management organisation referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department previously through the local Rural Recreation Officer. While my Department does not fund the ongoing administration costs of trail management organisations, it does provide a range of funding to support their work. In addition, my officials will continue to work with the Rural Recreation Officers and the trail management organisations to address issues as they arise. Indeed, the Rural Recreation Officers are specifically employed to administer the Walks Scheme on these trails and to reduce the administrative burden on the trail management organisations.

My Department's Walks Scheme was launched in 2008. The Walks Scheme provides funding to private landholders who maintain, develop and repair the trail that traverses their land. The trail must be registered on the Sport Ireland Trail Register. The trail referred to by the deputy joined the Walks Scheme in June 2021. To date, participant payments of €73,173 has been received by the 19 participants along the trail. The trail has also received €8,200 in material grant funding to cover the cost of materials for the landowners to carry out the agreed maintenance.

Local Development Companies may also apply for funding of up to €10,000 for small scale capital projects on approved Walks Scheme trails under the Walks Scheme Development Fund. The trail in question has been allocated almost €30,000 under this fund.

In addition, my Department's Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Funding of €58,025 has been awarded to the trail referred to by the deputy since 2021.

I acknowledge and appreciate the work of all the trail management organisations and the volunteers in developing and maintaining walking trails all over the country. That is why, in addition to all of the supports already referenced, I announced almost €1m in grant funding in 2022 to further support the trail management organisations, including €4,000 directly for the group referred to by the deputy. I will continue to keep their needs and the supports for walking trails under review.