611. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to link the Kerry Way and Daingean Uí Chúis Way walking routes via mid-Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45906/15]

There are 39 trails covered by the Walks Scheme, and payments of the order of €1.8m have been made to approximately 1900 landholders in 2015 for the maintenance of trails that traverse their lands. In addition, there are now close to 800 trails listed on the Irish Trails website at www.irishtrails.ie, which are fully open to the public and being maintained to the appropriate national standards.

In relation to the request that funding be provided to link the Kerry Way and Dingle Way, which are 40 kilometres apart in distance, I must advise the Deputy that funding is not available from my Department at this time for this project.