Media Release: Minister Calleary announces further investment in Ireland’s walking trails and latest expansion of the Walks Scheme
Preasráiteas
Dé hAoine, 16 Bealtaine 2025
Infheistíocht bhreise do chonairí siúil in Éirinn agus an leathnú is deireanaí ar Scéim na Siúlóidí fógartha ag an Aire Calleary
- 22 conair nua curtha le Scéim na Siúlóidí, ar fud 10 gcontae dhifriúla.
- Tacaíocht á tabhairt faoin tionscnamh anois do 164 conair, ina bhfuil 2,850 sealbhóir talún rannpháirteach.
- Maoiniú €465,000 fógartha chun feabhas agus uasghrádú a dhéanamh ar 49 conair siúil ar fud na tíre.
D’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary, inniu (Dé hAoine, 16 Bealtaine), go mbeidh 22 conair nua á gcur le Scéim Siúlóidí na Roinne, chomh maith le breis is €465,000 maoiniú do thionscadail chun tacú le 49 conair atá mar chuid de Scéim na Siúlóidí cheana féin agus feabhas a chur orthu.
Tá na 22 conair nua a fógraíodh inniu scaipthe ar fud 10 gcontae agus áirítear orthu sin conairí ar nós Shiúlóid an tSáis i gCiarraí, ina bhfuil 40 úinéir talún rannpháirteach, agus Siúlóid Lúibe Keenagh i Maigh Eo a bhfuil os cionn 20 úinéir talún i gceist léi. Tá dhá chonair lonnaithe ar Chliara freisin. Is féidir na mionsonraí maidir leis na 22 conair nua a fháil i gcuid na nótaí thíos.
Chomh maith leis sin, d’fhógair an tAire Calleary maoiniú sa bhreis ar €465,000 freisin faoi Chiste Forbartha Scéim na Siúlóidí chun tacú le 49 conair atá faoi Scéim na Siúlóidí cheana féin agus feabhas a chur orthu.
Áirítear ar thionscadail atá ag fáil tacaíochta, feabhsúcháin dromchla ar scála beag, comharthaíocht agus marcanna slí, limistéir phicnice agus caitheamh aimsire agus conairí atá in aice le bóithre atá gnóthach a chur ar mhalairt slí. Beidh na tionscadail seo faoi stiúir cuideachtaí forbartha áitiúla i gcomhar le húinéirí talún, eagraíochtaí bainistíochta conairí pobail agus páirtithe leasmhara eile. Tá liosta de na tionscadail ar fáil i gcuid na nótaí thíos.
Dúirt an tAire Calleary, le linn dó an fógra a bheith á dhéanamh aige:
“In Éirinn, tá ár gceantar tuaithe álainn ar cheann de na hacmhainní is luachmhaire atá againn. Tá an t-ádh dearg orainn conairí siúlóide iontacha a bheith againn ar fud na tíre agus úinéirí talún atá flaithiúil agus atá sásta rochtain phoiblí a cheadú chuig conairí a thrasnaíonn a gcuid talún.
“Is cúis áthais dom a fhógairt inniu go bhfuil 22 conair ceadaithe i bprionsabal chun iad a chur le Scéim na Siúlóidí chomh maith le maoiniú chun feabhsúchán breise a dhéanamh ar 49 conair atá sa scéim cheana féin.
“Tá mo roinn tiomanta do thacú le forbairt, cothabháil agus cur chun cinn bonneagar caitheamh aimsire ag teacht le haidhmeanna ‘Téigh Amach Faoin Aer’ straitéis náisiúnta na hÉireann um áineas faoin aer.
“Is mian liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis na húinéirí talún go háirithe, as na deiseanna seo a chur ar fáil. Níl aon amhras ann maidir leis na buntáistí sláinte agus folláine atá á soláthar ag na conairí seo agus an tionchar geilleagrach is féidir leo a chur ar fáil freisin trí chur le líon na gcuairteoirí chuig ceantair thuaithe na hÉireann.”
Comhlíonann fógra an lae inniu tiomantas atá i Téigh Amach Faoin Aer, Straitéis Náisiúnta Áineasa Allamuigh 2023-2027, sé sin líon na gconairí i Scéim na Siúlóidí a mhéadú go 150.
Ag plé an fhógra dó, dúirt an tAire Stáit, Jerry Buttimer, TD:
“Tá an Roinn seo tiomanta tacú le cuideachtaí forbartha áitiúla atá ag obair i gcomhar le grúpaí pobail chun forbairt agus feabhas a chur ar na conairí seo. Is mian liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na grúpaí pobail áitiúla go léir a bhí rannpháirteach san obair.
“Ní féidir dóthain moladh a thabhairt don tionchar dearfach atá ag na conairí seo ar phobail áitiúla. Bheinn ag moladh don uile dhuine a dhul ar thóir na gconairí seo agus blaiseadh a fháil d’áilleacht na tuaithe atá thart timpeall orthu.“
Media Release
Friday, 16 May 2025
Minister Calleary announces further investment in Ireland’s walking trails and latest expansion of the Walks Scheme
- 22 new trails, across 10 different counties, added to the Walks Scheme.
- 164 trails, involving 2,850 landholders, now supported under the initiative.
- Funding of €465,000 announced to enhance and upgrade 49 walking trails across the country.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has today (Friday, 16 May) announced 22 new trails that will be joining his Department’s Walks Scheme, as well as over €465,000 in funding for projects to support and enhance 49 trails already on the Walks Scheme.
The 22 new trails announced today are spread over 10 counties and include trails such as Siúlóid an tSáis in Kerry, involving 40 landowners, and the Keenagh Loop in Mayo, with over 20 landowners. There are also two trails located on Clare Island. The details of the 22 new trails can be found in the notes section below.
In addition, Minister Calleary also announced funding of over €465,000 under the Walks Scheme Development Fund to support and enhance 49 trails that are already on the Walks Scheme.
Projects supported include small scale trail surface improvements, signage and waymarking, new picnic and recreation areas, and rerouting of trails away from busy roads. These projects will be led by local development companies in collaboration with landowners, community trail management organisations and other stakeholders. The list of projects is available in the notes section below.
Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said:
“In Ireland, one of our most valuable resources is our beautiful countryside. We are very fortunate to have wonderful walking trails all across the country and to have generous landowners who are willing to allow the public access to trails that cross their lands.
“I am pleased to announce today the approval in principle for 22 trails to join the Walks Scheme, as well as funding to support the further enhancement of 49 trails already on the scheme.
“My department is committed to supporting the development, maintenance and promotion of recreational infrastructure in line with the aims of ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors,’ Irelands national outdoor recreation strategy.
“I want to thank the land owners in particular, for providing these opportunities. There is no doubting the health and wellbeing benefits provided by these trails, and the economic impact they can also provide by driving visitor numbers to rural Ireland.”
The announcement today fulfils a commitment in Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, to increase the number of trails on the Walks Scheme to 150.
Discussing the announcement, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer said:
“This Department is committed to supporting the local development companies who in turn are working in collaboration with community groups in the development and enhancement of these trails. I wish to thank all the local community groups involved for their work.
“The positive impact that these trails have on local communities cannot be overstated. I would encourage everyone to seek out their local trail and to discover the beauty of the countryside around them.”