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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

West Cork walking tourism scheme

Summary

Deputy Collins highlighted the value of walking tourism in west Cork and said the landowner walks scheme was under-resourced. The Tánaiste said he would raise the matter with Minister Humphreys and noted there was a review under way.

Tourism continues to be a shining light throughout County Cork. Walking tourism in west Cork is now worth €14 million to the local economy and is growing from year to year. We have some spectacular walks, including the Beara way, Sheep's Head way, Seven Heads walk and Mizen Head walk, to name but a few. A total of 695 landowners, mainly farmers, maintain these west Cork walks for the public to enjoy. West Cork Development Partnership has successfully administered this walks scheme for many years but it has only two part-time recreation officers to look after the 695 existing landowner participants. For a similar scheme in Leitrim, where 25 landowners are involved, there is, rightly, one full-time rural recreation officer to administer the scheme.

For the future of the successful walks scheme, be it the Beara-Breifne Way or other routes under the West Cork Development Partnership, at least four full-time rural recreation officers are needed. Will the Tánaiste work with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, and the many County Cork Oireachtas Members who attended a Zoom meeting on the issue this morning, to organise a meeting with the aim of working towards a solution on this crisis issue for the greater benefit of tourism and farmers in west Cork?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I will certainly raise the matter with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and let her know he raised it in the House. I understand there is a review under way at some level but I am not across the details of it. I had the pleasure of walking a section of the Beara-Breifne Way around Millstreet. I would love to do the whole length of it, from north to south, some time. It is a walk with huge potential. I will let the Minister know the Deputy raised this issue in the Dáil.

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