Donal Hickey: Funding for greenways, walking trails, and beach access — at Ballybunion, Valentia, Macroom and more locations

€2.3million is to go towards 50 new outdoor recreation projects, including Ireland’s first underwater artificial reef at Killala Bay, in Mayo

A section of the Waterford greenway — funding has been announced for the development of greenways, including one linking Knightstown, Chapeltown, Skellig Experience and Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point at Bray Head on Valentia Island

As work on developing new cycleways and walkways continues apace, the Government has just provided a further €2.3m for such developments.

There can be difficulties, however, and providing more public access to areas of high value to nature and wildlife can sometimes do more harm than good.