Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
866. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the walks scheme from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15170/25]
View answerMy Department’s Walks Scheme provides funding to private landholders (participants) who maintain, develop and repair the portion of the trail that traverses their land. The scheme is administered by 22 Local Development Companies (LDCs) and not by local authorities. In Cork, the scheme is administered by IRD Duhallow, Comhar na nOileán and West Cork Development Partnership.
There are currently 6 trails operational on the Walks Scheme in Co Cork:
• Sheep's Head Way.
• Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai.
• Beara Cork.
• Beara Islands (Dursey).
• Whiddy Island Walk-Sheep's Head Way.
• Duhallow Way.
A further 8 trails have been approved in principal to join the scheme and work is ongoing to bring them onto the Scheme as soon as possible.
Details of funding provided to participants in Co Cork under the Walks Scheme from 2020 to 2024 are outlined in the table below. Also included is funding provided to cover the costs of purchasing everyday materials and the once-off costs associated with small capital projects under the Walks Scheme Development Funding (WSDF).
|
Year |
Participant Payments |
Materials |
WSDF |
|
2020 |
€761,302.71 |
€50,800.00 |
€0.00 |
|
2021 |
€813,075.64 |
€8,500.00 |
€4,150.00 |
|
2022 |
€865,696.01 |
€123,400.00 |
€19,976.65 |
|
2023 |
€912,033.13 |
€47,900.00 |
€50,938.00 |
|
2024 |
€909,749.02 |
€83,700.00 |
€36,656.85 |
