Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced a major €20 million fund which will support hundreds of outdoor recreation projects across the country.
The 2024/25 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas.
It will see the development of our natural amenities such as our mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, blue-ways, bogs, forest walks and upland areas.
The funding will provide not only an outlet for the communities in which they are situated but will also deliver added value from a tourism perspective.
Launching the 2024/25 scheme, Minister Humphreys said: “Since this scheme was launched in 2016, over €129 million has been provided to support over 1,770 projects. The funding I am announcing will add further to this project pipeline.”
She explained that through ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, the national outdoor recreation strategy, her Department is working to transform the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland.
“At the national outdoor recreation conference in Sligo earlier this year, I was very encouraged by the enthusiasm and interest of everyone in the sector. It is clear to see that, through our ongoing investment and the work that is happening on the ground, the outdoor recreation sector is going from strength to strength. With this €20 million fund now announced, we are well on track to realise my goal of making Rural Ireland a first-class destination for adventure tourism.”
Minister Humphreys added that the Department’s Walks Scheme continues to grow and will soon have over 150 trails signed up to the scheme. This scheme facilitates walkers to enjoy rural Ireland and provides modest incomes to landowners who maintain sections of trails that traverse their lands. €1million funding was recently announced to support the work of the community groups who develop and manage many of our walking trails, meaning there has never been as much investment in this sector.
“There are so many different opportunities out there for us to enjoy the great outdoors, so I would encourage everyone to get out there and see these wonderful amenities for yourself,” she said.
Full details of the Outdoor Recreation Scheme are available here. This funding is a key strand of Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the Government’s ambitious outdoor recreation strategy.
The strategy aims to grow the sector in a sustainable manner, increase the number of people active in the outdoors, and foster a greater understanding of how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. The Minister also published an update on the delivery of the strategy which is available here.