Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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438. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided to Louth County Council and ring-fenced to further develop the Great Eastern Greenway to extend it south of Carlingford and to Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19971/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in Ireland.  The scheme was implemented in 2016 and 2017 and has facilitated the development of greenways, blueways, walks and other trails across the country.

In 2017, funding of €8,500 was approved under the scheme for improvements to the Carlingford to Omeath portion of the Great Eastern Greenway. I plan to launch the 2018 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in the coming weeks.  While details of the scheme have yet to be finalised, it may provide an opportunity for an application to be made for funding for the further development of the Greenway.  The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme operates on a competitive bid basis and all applications will be assessed on their merits against the scheme criteria.