Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
324. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her Department's plans to support long, cross-county walking trails in order to optimise their development for the benefit of villages along their routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16697/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 of over €113 million has supported more than 1,700 projects across the country.
Cross-country walking trails across rural Ireland have seen significant funding allocations under ORIS since the launch of the scheme. Examples include St. Declan's Way, Western Way and Miners Way. This investment is making a significant contribution to supporting healthy, active lifestyles while also building the economic and tourism potential of rural areas. I am committed to building on the potential of the outdoor recreation sector and will continue to do so.
I launched Ireland’s first ever National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, in November 2022. It provides a strategic, collaborative framework to facilitate the consolidation and sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation sector.
My Department’s Walks Scheme contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on national waymarked ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. Significant progress has been made towards achieving this increased target. In January last I provided approval in principle for the addition to the scheme of 62 new trails across 17 counties. This brings to 142 the number of trails that have approval in principal to join the scheme. This is a significant increase from the 40 trails that were on the scheme in 2019 and demonstrates the level of interest in the sector.
Under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, I have also approved €300,000 for a Category 2 project led by Fáilte Ireland for the Beara-Breifne Way. The Beara-Breifne Way is a long-distance walking and cycling trail being developed from the Beara Peninsula in Cork, to Blacklion in Cavan. This project will develop plans for the trail quality and visitor experience to make a positive economic and social contribution to local communities along the trail.
I am committed to continuing to support the development of this trail through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Walks Scheme. Furthermore, I know the local Rural Recreation Officers funded by my Department will also continue to support development in this vital area.
