Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.

The ORIS is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways throughout rural Ireland.

The scheme is central to embracing Ireland outdoors, the new national outdoor recreation strategy, which is set to shape the future of outdoor recreation over the next five years. The strategy will ensure there is a joined-up and co-ordinated approach to deliver maximum impact from the significant investment in the sector and 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.

There is an undoubted increase in the appetite for the outdoors. A growing wealth of trails, cycleways, greenways and outdoor recreation infrastructure has been developed in recent years thanks to significant levels of investment across government. Since the launch of the ORIS in 2016, funding of in excess of €106 million has supported more than 1,500 projects across the country. County Galway has seen investment of €5.2 million supporting more than 65 projects, and Dublin Mid-West has seen investment of €1.6 million supporting eight projects. I expect to open another round of funding under the scheme in the coming weeks under four measures, that is, small-scale projects requiring funding of up to €30,000, medium-scale projects with funding of up to €200,000, large scale projects seeking funding of up to €500,000 and project development funding of up to €50,000 for development costs for strategic large-scale projects.

Projects within County Galway and Dublin Mid-West are eligible to apply for ORIS funding. While projects should in the main be located in the countryside, the development of recreational amenities in the vicinity of urban stretches of rivers, lakes and beaches may also be considered. The scheme may also fund recreational infrastructure linking a town or village to the countryside and particularly linking towns or villages to other outdoor recreation facilities located in the countryside. I encourage local community and voluntary groups to engage with either the relevant local authority or local development company that administers the scheme at a local level on behalf of my Department. I look forward to accepting applications to further support outdoor recreation projects in Galway and, indeed, further afield across the country.

Deputy Cannon is a big supporter of the walks project, particularly the one in Loughrea. I announced more than €200,000 for that project last year and was delighted to visit it with him. He also mentioned the project in Portumna, and I will follow up with him on that.

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