Walkers and landowners dispute the right to access lands in the Wicklow hills.
Access rights to some well known walking routes, including parts of the Wicklow Way, have been removed from the Wicklow County Development Plan.
Wicklow County Council removed 13 rights of way following a campaign by landowners and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA). A further 33 access routes are now up for debate. A council committee will assess these on a case by case basis.
A war of words has broken out. Walkers say they are fighting for the right to ramble and landowners argue they have a right to refuse access to their private property.
One land owner, Joe Walker, claims that walkers have cut down his fences and torn down his signs.
They even had protest walks of 300 people led by bagpipes.
Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Doran says there are insurance implications for landowners with people walking on their land. Fine Gael councillor Derek Mitchell believes that public access rights should remain and the rights of access need to be improved.
Niall Lenoach, Enniskerry Hillwalkers, welcomes the work of the committee in reassessing access across County Wicklow.
Independent councillor Christopher Fox is one member of the committee investigating the access routes. He says there are some contentious routes but is confident that agreement can be reached on the issue. The committee findings are expected to be published in June.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 March 2005. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
