Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted today with the announcement from the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, about the outdoor recreational infrastructure programme. It is worth €6 million. It is wonderful because there is €500,000 for Mote Park in Roscommon. This shows the commitment to regional development, which is crucial. We are currently in lockdown, but we must have ways to kick-start tourism, particularly in towns and villages, when we begin to reopen in safer times. The €500,000 will be available for a cycleway which will link Mote Park in Roscommon to Athleague. I pay tribute to the role of community groups. I refer to volunteer groups that work with the Suck Valley Way, part of the Beara-Breifne Way that goes from Cork to Cavan. It goes through about ten counties. We are also talking about the regeneration teams in local authorities. It is important that we ensure tourism officers, rural recreation officers and the regeneration teams in local authorities are receiving sufficient funding to be able to compete in these applications.

In Roscommon, this is building on funding already announced through the rural development fund, RDF, of approximately €9.2 million for urban regeneration. It points to the fact that when one funds excellent regeneration teams in local authorities, they will win such funding. Again, along with the biodiversity and habitats that are in Mote Park, it is important that communities are supported in the time ahead. Getting out within the 5 km limit is important, but the Mote Park Conservation Group is very good because it has interactive elements on the heritage trail, so one can see it all from one's couch if one cannot get to the park. I thank our regeneration teams and community groups.