Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
363. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects the latest ORIS scheme to be adjudicated upon and allocated; if she will provide a list of eligible projects from County Kerry that have been applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51784/23]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding in excess of €106 million has supported more than 1,500 projects across the country.
Earlier this year, I launched the 2023 ORIS with an allocation of €16 million, a €1 million increase on 2022. The deadline for applications under all measures of the 2023 scheme has now passed and the assessment process is ongoing.
A range of applications has been submitted in respect of County Kerry under Measures 1, 2 and 3 of this year's scheme. However, as the assessment process is currently ongoing it is not possible to provide a list of eligible projects at this stage. The successful projects for these 3 measures will be announced in Quarter 1 of 2024.
Earlier this week I approved funding of almost €2.3 million under the ORIS Project Development Measure for 2023. This funding will support preparatory work required to bring large scale outdoor recreation projects to a shovel-ready stage. This investment will ensure a strong pipeline of outdoor amenity projects right across the country in the coming years. The successful projects are included in the announcement, details of which are available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/df8ae-our-rural-future-minister-humphreys-announces-almost-23-million-to-develop-50-new-outdoor-recreation-projects/
