About Us: Overview

The Irish Trails Strategy, launched in January 2007, highlighted the fact that there is no coordinating system or mechanism to facilitate orderly planning, funding, implementation or evaluation of trails in Ireland. There was clearly a need to establish a secure mechanism to facilitate cooperative working and joint initiative among all agencies. The strategy recommended the establishment of a National Trails Advisory
Committee (NTAC) to facilitate and to coordinate the implementation of the strategy.

The National Trails Advisory Committee (NTAC) is expected to;

• achieve agreement on a harmonised approach to certain elements of trail provision including; trail standards, trail classification systems, trail signage policy, trail development guidelines, trail quality assurance and appropriate marketing and promotion. The aim would be to agree on systems and standards which are consistent and coherent to all users and developers.
• advise, guide and support the work of a National Trails Office, as described below
• prepare a list of sources of current and capital funds available for the provision of trails with a summary of the totals available.
• ensure that systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of trails are in place and are implemented.

The first meeting of the NTAC took place in February 2007. The members of the NTAC are comprised of the wide range of agencies and bodies involved in recreational trail development in Ireland. This includes, amongst others, representatives from;
• Coillte
• Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism
• Walking Routes Ireland
• Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
• National Parks and Wildlife Service
• Cycling Ireland
• Failte Ireland

The Committee is chaired by Jerry O'Dwyer and meets on a monthly basis.

The Irish Trails Strategy also recommended the designation of a National Office to coordinate and drive the implementation of the strategy. The functions of the National Trails Office (NTO) are as follows;

• to work in close association with the NTAC, informing and guiding on all matters relating to trail policy development.
• implement the priority projects recommended in Section 5.3 of the strategy, including the development of a five-year plan.
• guide, facilitate and monitor the planning, provision and maintenance of trails at local (county) and regional levels.
• maintain an up to date register of all approved trail developments on a county-by-county basis.
• provide a technical advisory service on all new trail development projects, ensuring compliance with recommended standards.
• coordinate a trail quality assurance programme.
• establish and maintain systems to monitor and evaluate the administration, outputs, outcomes and impact of trails, and to review policy and practice in light of the results.
• quantify the resources (financial, personnel and materials) required to maintain and develop trails in accordance with agreed plans and standards, and advise the Irish Sports Council, through the NTAC on the annual and medium term requirements, in accordance with agreed budgetary procedures.
• administer the funds made available to it for the planning, development, maintenance and evaluation of trails.
• assess the overall personnel and skill requirements necessary to support the planning of a trails network and to advise on the adequate supply of appropriate expertise
• liaise with relevant national, regional and local agencies to agree an ongoing integrated marketing and information strategy in respect of trails.
• prepare and publish regular reports on trails, with particular reference to progress in relation to plans, outcomes of evaluation and levels of usage.

The National Trails Office functions as a unit within the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Cormac MacDonnell.