Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced a major initiative for Rural Ireland, which includes the addition of 31 new walking trails to her Department’s Walks Scheme and funding for a number of new Rural Recreation Officers.
The 31 new trails across 13 counties are to be added to the ‘Walk’s Scheme’, which aims to open up our countryside to local walkers, hikers and tourists.
Under the scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landowners to maintain the trails that travel through their holdings.
Today’s announcement means there are will now be 80 trails under the Scheme, which is operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development in conjunction with the Local Development Companies (LDCs) and over 2,400 farmers and landowners in total.
A key project for North Roscommon is the Lung Lough Gara Way. This involves the participation of 9 landowners and 28.2KM of walkway running from Castlerea to Ballaghadereen and on to Boyle.
Minister Frank Feighan has welcomed the announcement both nationally as Minister responsible for Healthy Ireland and locally as a TD for the area.
“I want to acknowledge the great work undertaken by our local development company in this case Roscommon Integrated Development Company and other companies nationally. We are indebted to our farmers and other landowners throughout the country that facilitate access to these wonderful trails and who now, through this scheme, are being funded to maintain the walks to the high standard we have all come to expect”, concluded Minister Feighan.
