Swimming, kayaking, sailing, paragliding and kite surfing projects will be eligible to apply for a share of a €20 million outdoor recreation infrastructure fund announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) 2024/25 provides funding to develop new and existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in rural areas.
The country's natural facilities will be developed with it, such as mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, blue ways, bogs, forest walks and upland areas of Ireland, her department has said.
“Not only will the funding provide a way for the communities in which they live to be outdoors - but it will also provide added value from a tourism perspective,”it says.
“Since the launch of this scheme in 2016, over €129 million has been made available to support over 1,770 projects. The funding I am announcing today will add to the amount planned for this project,”Ms Humphreys said on Thursday.
“Through “Go Outdoors”, the national outdoor recreation strategy, my department is working to transform the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland,”she said.
“With this €20 million fund now announced, we are well on the way to achieving my goal, which is to make the Irish countryside a world-class destination for adventure tourism,”she said.
The minister announced €1 million funding last month to support the work of the community groups which develop and manage walking trails.
All information about the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme can be found here.
Details of previous successful projects under the scheme can be found here.
