Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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103. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy. [19388/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027,was launched last November. The Strategy was developed in collaboration with Comhairle na Tuaithe and is a collaborative cross-Government, stakeholder-led strategy. It reflects the views of stakeholders, the public and the whole of Government and it sets the stage to strengthen and support the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland for years to come.

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoorswill ensure that there is a joined up and coordinated approach to deliver maximum impact from the significant investment in the sector and to build on the natural advantages in place. The Strategy also aims to increase the number of people active in the outdoors, especially young people and under-represented groups, and to foster a greater understanding of how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

Better planning and development of outdoor recreation infrastructure will be embedded through the Strategy implementation. This will lead to enhanced protection of the environment and will be in keeping with best practice management of landscape and habitats.

The implementation of Embracing Ireland's Outdoorsis being led by my Department and Sport Ireland and progress will be overseen by Comhairle na Tuaithe. A Strategy Implementation and Oversight Group has been established. The Group is meeting later this month to review the progress to date under the Strategy.