Walks Scheme paid out almost €2m to participants last year

Department of Environment figures show that landholders received €1,909,468 of Walks Scheme payments in 2011.

The average payment was €1,057 per participant per annum. The Walks Scheme operates on 40 trails being managed by 16 local development companies around the country. There are 1,805 landowners participating.

The full-year cost of implementing the Walk Scheme in 2012 is €2.6m.