Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the development of rural recreation in 2018; his plans to revamp Comhairle na Tuaithe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19102/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department delivers a number of programmes that support the development of recreational facilities in rural areas and I will continue to deliver on these initiatives in 2018.

For example, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme supports the development, maintenance, enhancement and promotion of recreational infrastructure, including walking trails, greenways, and blueways in rural Ireland.  This scheme plays an important role in enhancing tourism potential and creating job opportunities in rural areas.  Over €20 million has been allocated to 370 projects under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme since it was launched in the second half of 2016 and I plan to launch a further round of the scheme in the coming weeks.

Since the establishment of Comhairle na Tuaithe in 2004 and the publication of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy in 2006, there has been significant growth in the number of people engaging in outdoor pursuits across a wider range of activities than ever before. 

In this context, an independent review of Comhairle and the Countryside Recreation Strategy was carried out in 2016 to assess, amongst other issues, the suitability and success of the body in an evolving outdoor recreation sector.

I met with the members of Comhairle on 13th February last to hear directly from them their views on the recommendations of the independent review, the future direction of Comhairle, and the development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland generally.  The meeting was very constructive in helping me to formulate proposals for the future development of the sector.

I am currently finalising my policy proposals in the context of a wider focus on the development of the rural recreation sector and I have asked my officials to meet with the members of Comhairle in the coming weeks to outline these proposals.