Funding to enhance mountain trails, forest walks, heritage trails and bog walks
Investment under the Walks Scheme designed to boost outdoor recreation and rural tourism
Walking trails to be ‘re-routed’ as part of initiative to improve safety
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (21st June 2023) announced funding of over €209,000 to upgrade and enhance 23 walking trails across the country.
The funding, under the Walks Scheme, will improve trail surfaces and deliver additional seating and signage for the benefit of walkers, tourists and families alike.
A number of trails and walks will also be ‘re-routed’ to improve their safety and to protect the rural countryside.
The initiative is designed to boost outdoor recreation and adventure tourism and to enhance some of the country’s most popular outdoor trails.
Under the Walks Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the trails that travel through their land. Funding is also provided to local development companies for the management of the scheme and the upkeep of the trails.
Among the successful projects being announced today include:
Co. Offaly: Offaly Way – Maintenance and repair of 2 pedestrian bridges – €10,000
Co. Kerry: Glanageenty Loops – Provision of Safety Fencing to protect the trail – €10,000
Co. Roscommon: Lung Lough Gara Way – Installation of boardwalk across a bog section to improve walking experience – €10,000
Co. Mayo: Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail – Reroute at Knockraha with relocation of an existing walkway bridge and drainage installed – €10,000
Co. Waterford: St. Declan’s Way – Resurfacing of trail and installation of drainage at Cush of Grange – €10,000
Co. Cork: Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí – Works include cutting back growth from path edges, installation of fencing, pedestrian gates and resurfacing of a short re-route of the trail – €10,000
Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys said:
“Our walkways and outdoor trails really showcase the unique beauty of our rural towns and villages.
“They are hugely popular assets among families, hikers, cyclists and tourists alike and it’s therefore so important that we continuously maintain and protect them.
“So today, I’m delighted to announce this funding of over €209,000 under my Department’s Walks Scheme.
“This funding will enhance 23 of our most popular walking trails across the country.
“I’m pleased too that these projects will be delivered through local contractors and workers, therefore providing a boost to our rural economies.
“This funding, along with my recent announcement of the Walks Scheme’s expansion, builds on the unprecedented investment in our outdoor amenities, underpinned by our most ambitious rural development policy in decades – ‘Our Rural Future’.”
The Minister concluded:
“Outdoor recreation tourism is a growing sector internationally, and has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages.
“I would encourage everyone to visit their local trails to see the fantastic work that is being done in conjunction with our farmers and landowners.
“A visit to your local trail also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, beautiful views and the peace of mind that being in the outdoors brings.”
The projects being funded are led by local development companies in collaboration with landowners, Community Trail Management Organisations and other stakeholders.
Under the Walks Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the trails that travel through their land. Funding is also provided to local development companies for the management of the scheme and the upkeep of the trails.
The Walks Scheme Development Fund supports projects that require more extensive work, which would be additional to ongoing maintenance. Over the last two years the Department has provided funding of over €400,000 for 48 projects under the fund.
Along with the recent announcement of a major expansion of the Walks Scheme, this funding will support the growth of outdoor recreation across rural Ireland and will provide high quality recreation opportunities which are key commitments of the new ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2027.
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