Written answers

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Funding

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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706. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider a targeted increase in funding provided under the outdoor recreation and infrastructure scheme to midland counties that have traditionally suffered from regional and economic imbalance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22824/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since 2016, my Department has allocated almost €68 million to nearly 1000 projects countrywide through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). Earlier this year, I announced details of 226 projects to the value of almost €15.8 million that were approved funding under ORIS 2020. This included funding of just over €2 million for 35 projects in the midland counties of Longford, Offaly, Laois and Westmeath.

Building on the launch of “Our Rural Future", I was pleased to recently announce details of the 2021 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme with an indicative budget of €14million. This reflects a 20% increase in funding from my Department for the scheme in 2021 and includes a funding contribution from Fáilte Ireland who are partners with my Department in delivering the scheme.

The scheme is open to all counties and funding is allocated based on the merits of the project applications submitted. The counties in the midlands have a wealth of natural resources that can be further developed for outdoor recreation purposes and I hope to see a large number of good project applications from that region under the Scheme this year.

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