Country walkers may pay for the privilege

CALLS to allow landowners charge walkers going onto their property are being rejected by the Government, for the moment at least.

But, with increasing numbers of people walking in the countryside, a question that must inevitably be faced is: should they pay landowners for the privilege of allowing them access?

We’ve seen many rows with farmers on the issue and they are likely to continue. Undoubtedly, the payment of cash would help ease tensions, help remove “no trespassing” signs and re-open many gates that have been locked for a long time. In other countries, there are ski passes which admit people onto certain lands for, say, a week. In Ireland, such money could be used to compensate landowners, could cover maintenance and insurance costs and leave something for further development of walkways. And, as always when money is an issue, there would be an incentive for communities to encourage more walkers to come, to open coffee shops, farmyards and other attractions.

Rural Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv doesn’t agree. “My gut feeling is that the traditional way is best in this matter. People should be fairly free to roam the hills of the country and should not have to pay as long as no damage is done. This is the most desirable approach from the perspective of tourism,’’ he said.

Meetings have been held with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), but Mr Ó Cuiv made it clear that payment for access is not under discussion. The IFA wants payment for the maintenance of specific walks throughout the country. While the minister agrees farmers should not have to pay for the maintenance of walkways open to the public, other ways of compensating them must be found, he stressed.

As more people move to cities and towns, the demand for access to the countryside will most likely grow. Numbers of walkers are going up and are exceeding the figures that existed prior to the foot and mouth disease outbreak, in 2001. In the Dáil recently, numerous suggestions were made about the use of land, including state-owned property, for leisure purposes — another sign of rising demands for free and easy access to the countryside. One proposal concerned discussions Minister Ó Cuiv’s officials have been having with Iarnród Éireann regarding the use of its abandoned railway lines, including the old Tralee/Limerick line as a walking and cycling route. Recently, officials from Mr Ó Cuiv’s department met representatives of Iarnród Éireann and CIE to discuss the possibility of opening up disused railway infrastructure around the country for walkways and cycle paths. It was confirmed at that meeting that the only lines that are abandoned and definitely available for development, at present, are Attymon to Loughrea, Tralee to Limerick and Waterford to Dungarvan. Meetings were also held on the matter with the umbrella body for Leader companies around the country. Communities in other areas with abandoned railway lines are also being urged to come up with ideas for use of the lines. Considerable progress has been made on part of a railway line in the west which has been abandoned since World War II.

Walkers and cyclists can use part of the line before taking another route and returning to the line on land held be people who are willing to allow access by walkers and cyclists.

The minister floated the idea of using sections of the Caherciveen line, in Co Kerry, or west Clare railway lines, for these purposes. “Even making four miles of line available would be a fantastic outcome. Once communities see what is possible, they will come forward with good and novel ideas. Our experience is that many good ideas are coming out of the woodwork,’’ he remarked. However, it should be pointed out that all disused railway lines are not available.

Meanwhile, agreement has been reached with Fáilte Ireland regarding the employment of up to 10 walk managers whose role will be to promote walking tourism in areas where there are clusters of suitable, accessible walks.

Also, a further 30 looped walks and way-marked ways have been identified for development this year. Work on 15 of these will be under way by June, funding of €1.5 million has been set aside. So far, 40 looped walks have already been developed.

One such walk was opened in Caherciveen, last year, and is proving to be a worthwhile facility for locals and visitors alike. An expert group comprising a senior counsel and officials from a number of departments is due to report back to Mr Ó Cuiv by the end of April. Any question of acquisition by local groups of land to facilitate increased hill walking will be considered following the completion of the group’s report.