1518. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to Coillte for the maintenance, upkeep and improvement of Derroura cycle trail, Connemara since 2020; if that funding has been spent on Derroura; where exactly the money has been spent; the reason the track is in such poor condition considering the State investment; and if his Department officials will walk the trail to examine this expenditure and future needs. [64490/26]

My department currently has a 5-year strategic partnership under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2022 – 2026) with Coillte to enhance recreational facilities on Coillte-owned land for use by the general public and to support increased tourism and economic activity in rural areas. Since 2020, approximately €278,000 has been invested by my department in the Derroura mountain bike trail and associated visitor infrastructure through the current and previous strategic partnerships with Coillte. This funding has been fully expended at Derroura and details of what this funding has been used for is outlined in the attached table.

In addition, funding of approximately €52,000 was invested in the Derroura trails through Galway County Council as part of a wider Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme project which focused on Connemara trails and the Eurovelo route.

The management of this site is a matter for Coillte. I have been informed by Coillte that Derroura has been a mountain biking destination for many years. However, use of the trail has declined significantly over the past decade and has remained at low levels in recent years.

In relation to the current condition of the track, I am informed that Derroura is located in a remote and exposed upland environment with particularly challenging site conditions. As a result, maintaining the cycling trail infrastructure is complex and expensive. Significant sections of the trail traverse remote areas that are difficult to access, adding further complexity and cost to maintenance operations.

The current condition of parts of the trail reflects the age of the infrastructure and the challenging environmental conditions in which it operates. In particular, I understand that the timber boardwalk sections which connect stone and gravel-built sections of the trail were originally installed in 2008 and have been maintained extensively throughout their operational life, including through the application of rubberised surfacing to extend their lifespan. However, many of these structures have now reached the end of their usable life and can no longer be maintained in a cost-effective manner.

While Coillte has continued to maintain the facility and most of the site remains open, it is of the view that the combination of ageing infrastructure, ongoing erosion, challenging site conditions and low visitor numbers means that the substantial level of investment required to replace the cycling infrastructure and upgrade the trail to the standard of Coillte's dedicated mountain bike centres is no longer appropriate. Coillte believes that a change of use to walking represents the most appropriate and sustainable future for this site.

Given the investment in maintaining the site in recent years, I am assured that Coillte remains committed to maintaining public access at Derroura and ensuring the site continues to provide a safe, sustainable and high-quality recreational experience for walkers into the future.

The Minister will keep the Deputy updated on this issue.

Funding allocated to Coillte since 2020 for Derroura MTB trail and associated infrastructure