Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for his question. As part of the ongoing process of co-ordinated scheme delivery across my Department, schemes such as the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, ORIS, involve a well-established process of issuing calls for applications, project evaluation and project selection. In general, my Department's schemes are administered on a competitive basis, which underpins the delivery of value for money and the selection of high quality projects. Applications for ORIS are administered, prioritised and submitted by each local authority and by local development companies to my Department for assessment. The process, while reviewed and refined ahead of each funding iteration, is well-embedded across the local authorities and local development companies.

ORIS provides funding for the development and enhancement of infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. It is typically opened every 18 months across a number of different measures. I have already announced the successful projects under measure 1 and the project development measure of the 2024-25 scheme. The successful projects under measures 2 and 3 will be announced before the end of this year.

Since 2020, almost €5 million has been approved for 58 projects across Galway under ORIS. The local improvement scheme, LIS, is one of the key supports to rural communities in that it improves non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. While my Department provides funding for the scheme, it is fully administered by local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for the selection and the prioritisation of those roads, as well as the management of applications and waiting lists. Following my approval in August of additional allocations under the scheme, Galway County Council’s 2025 allocation is now €2.1 million, which is an increase of €843,000 on its original 2025 allocation, and the council has indicated to me that its full allocation will be utilised by year end. Significant levels of investment have been delivered under my Department's rural development investment programme in recent years and I am absolutely committed, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to ensuring that this funding continues to be utilised in an efficient and effective manner.

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