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.