SEVENTY new trails in the national rural Walks Scheme are to be developed over the coming year or so with farmers across the West of Ireland being asked to ‘take a look’ at what’s on offer.

The scheme – first introduced by then Gaeltacht Minister, Éamon Ó Cuív in 2008 – already has 80 trails in place all over the country with participants earning up to €2,000 per annum for ‘looking after’ the walkways.

IFA National Hill Farming Committee Chairman, Cáillín Conneely has welcomed the announcement last week by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys that 70 new trails are being developed.

When completed, the 70 new trails will bring the total number included in the scheme to 150, in line with the commitment set out in the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’.

Cáillín Conneely told the Farming Tribune that increasing the number of trails on the Walks Scheme to 150 was previously set out in IFA’s 2023 pre-Budget Submission.

“The Walks Scheme has a significant impact on the development of recreational activities, boosting rural tourism and supporting farmers who provide access to their land.

“The additional €2.4m in funding will see the total number of farmers and landowners to benefit from the scheme increase to 2,500 over the next two years,” he said.

Mr. Conneely added that on farmland with very tight margins in terms of income, the potential income steam of up to €2,000 would still be an important financial support to qualifying farmers.

“The scheme is operational all across the country and in different parts of Galway including Connemara, South and East Galway.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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