|
The Green Party has called on the Minister
for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O' Donoghue to safeguard one of the largest
segments of Irish tourism by ensuring that farmers and landowners are
provided with incentives to open and support access to land,
particularly along the West coast.
Paul Gogarty, the Party's Tourism Spokesperson is to raise the issue
in the Dail tomorrow. He will be urging the Minister to establish a new
forum between farmers, community representatives, tourist organisations
and businesses to look at how recreational tourism can be sustained and
developed to everyone's benefit.
“Walking and cycling now account for the largest single earnings
segment in Irish tourism, even higher than golf,” said Deputy Gogarty.
“However this form of tourism is under threat because traditional
access routes are being closed off. We have heard reports of foreign travel
companies pulling out of certain areas because walkers were confronted
with rude and aggressive behaviour from landowners. Damage is being caused
to local economies as a result and this is effecting entire communities,
including the families of farmers who work in the tourism industry.”
“We believe much of the problem is caused by frustration among
small farmers who have seen their incomes drop in real terms. The Green
Party believes that while this frustration is misdirected, it is still
justified and there is a strong argument for compensating farmers in some
way for the role they play in attracting tourists. That is why we are
calling for the establishment of a forum and are also suggesting that
the Government provides financial assistance to farmers on a project by
project basis for work such as erecting stiles and upgrading facilities,”
said Deputy Gogarty.
ENDS
The following piece appeared in the Irish Times on
Saturday 1st February by their Agricultural Correspondent Sean MacConnell
A number of foreign travel companies offering walking holidays in
Ireland have pulled out of certain areas of the country because of the
rude and aggressive behaviour of a small segment of land-owners, a Green
Party TD has claimed.Mr Paul Gogarty called on the Government to set up
a forum to discuss access to lands by walkers to boost rural tourism.
Mr Gogarty, who is his party's tourism spokesman, also suggested that
farmers and land-owners be provided with financial incentives for giving
open and support access to land, particularly along the west coast.The
TD, who was unsuccessful in raising the issue in the Dáil earlier
this week, said major problems about access to land were arising every
day."The problem is particularly bad in Connemara, and I have reports
from the Gap of Dungloe, Donegal and Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, in recent
days," he said.Mr Gogarty added that much of the problem was being
caused by frustration among small farmers who have seen their incomes
drop in real terms."The Green Party believes that while this frustration
is misdirected at walkers and sporting enthusiasts, it is still justified.
There is a strong argument for compensating farmers in some way for the
role they play in attracting tourists," he said."Walking and
cycling now account for the largest single earnings segment in Irish tourism,
surpassing even golf," said Mr Gogarty.However, this form of tourism
is under threat because traditional access routes are being closed off.
We have heard reports of foreign travel companies pulling out of certain
areas because walkers were confronted with rude and aggressive behaviour
from a small segment land-owners," he said."It is not a nationwide
problem, but damage is being caused to many local economies as a result,
and this is affecting entire communities, including the families of farmers
who work in the tourism industry," he said.Mr Gogarty said there
were very few problems about access to land in Co Wicklow, where there
was a forum called the Upland Council representing all the interests involved.The
payment made for access to land which had been removed from the Rural
Environment Protection Scheme, should be substituted by a direct payment
from the national exchequer.A spokesman for the Irish Farmers' Association
said he broadly supported what the TD was saying and agreed there were
problems with access in certain areas of the country.The removal of the
access payment in the REPS scheme had been a contributory cause, and the
IFA wanted to see an acceptable framework to develop this sector.
© The Irish Times
|