Public "rights of way" should be preserved by being officially recognised in local authority development plans, the Green Party claimed today.
At the unveiling of the party's Private Members Bill, the Greens called for the listing of rights of way to become a mandatory function of every local authority to publicise their existence and bring in more revenue from walking tours and tourists.
Mr Paul Gogarty, the party's tourism spokesperson, said: "Little can be done to improve the attractiveness of Ireland as a walking holiday destination while the access position remains unresolved.
"It is estimated that each year approximately 300,000 or 5 per cent of our international visitors partake at some level in walking as a holiday activity."
Current laws stipulate that the preservation of public rights of way is optional.
Mr Gogarty said overseas walking tours were worth an estimated €144 million to the economy - more than golf, angling and cycling. But because of the bad publicity about access, the number of walking visitors has declined from 322,000 in 1992 to 241,000 in 2001, he said.
The Greens say Ireland's walking tourism could bring much-needed revenue to areas where the land is poorest and where off-farm income is essential.
But he stressed that while the party wants local authorities to officially recognise rights of way, they also support farmers' right to be protected. "I am calling on the Government to take a more pro-active approach in this respect," he added.
Party leader Trevor Sargent said: "As things stand, apart from the roads network - the public highway - there are very few officially recognised rights of way in Ireland."
He said the countryside council, Comhairle na Tuaithe, set up to develop a national countryside recreational strategy, should serve as a mediator when conflicts arise.
Cllr. Mary White said Ireland should follow the example of the United Kingdom, where each local authority "registers and maintains a network of rights of way and makes maps of all such footpaths and bridleways available to the public".