Ireland’s Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced funding for two initiatives that will support and protect upland areas.
These are a new three-year pilot Upland Recreation Scheme in the MacGillycuddy Reeks, which is designated as a Mountain Access Project, and a two-year project to further the work of the Helping the Hills network.
The pilot Upland Recreation Scheme is similar to the Walks Scheme and is a first in Ireland. It will see payments being made to farmers and other private landowners in the MacGillycuddy Reeks who undertake an agreed work programme. These programmes feed into an overall plan for the Reeks that includes monitoring and maintaining the upland paths and access areas. The scheme also rewards farmers for engaging directly with members of the public and providing them with assistance and guidance on how to access the mountain responsibly.
The implementation of the pilot will be overseen by the MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum and will be administered by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG, a local development company which has been the lead partner in the MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum since its establishment.
Calleary said: “My department is committed to supporting the development and maintenance of recreational infrastructure in line with the aims of ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors,’ Irelands national outdoor recreation strategy.
“In excess of 64,000 walkers access the MacGillycuddy Reeks each year and the area is an important driver of the local tourism economy. This pilot scheme is a crucial step in creating a more sustainable future for visitor access to the MacGillycuddy Reeks.
“We are fortunate in Ireland to have areas of outstanding natural beauty that are accessible to so many. However, we often forget the significant impact that walkers can have on these sensitive areas which are typically private land that is actively farmed. I would like to again thank the landowners for providing this access and dealing with the challenges it brings for them, and also commend them for participating in this new pilot scheme. I would also like to thank South Kerry Development Partnership and the MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum for engaging with the Department to develop this scheme. I am committed to working with them to make this new venture a success and to address any challenges that emerge so that this and similar projects can become a permanent feature in many of our upland areas.”
Chairperson of the McGillycuddy Reeks Stakeholders Forum, Stewart Stephens, said: “The Upland Recreation Scheme is a major development in sustainable access to mountain areas, much of which are privately owned. It will benefit landowners, recreational users and the fragile upland environment. It recognises the important role of landowners in land management and the visitor experience. A lot of work has gone into the scheme, and we are delighted it is being piloted in the MacGillycuddy Reeks.”
The Minister also announced funding to support the Helping the Hill’s programme, an initiative that provides training in upland path development, helping to build the capacity of organisations to address path erosion in upland areas, capture and share learning from recent projects, and to consolidate the Helping the Hills Network.
Calleary said: “I am also happy to provide €90,000 in funding for the first year of a two-year programme to support the “Helping the Hills” network. Led by Mountaineering Ireland, the programme will build the capacity of organisations to address path erosion in upland areas and will include training in upland path development.”
Fifty-one landowners have signed up to participate in the Mountain Access Project so far. Participants are paid the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine own labour rate of €16.74 per hour.
The estimated cost of participant payments to landowners is just over €100,000 in year 1 and is expected to grow further as the pilot develops.
