Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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3440. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that has been allocated for wheelchair accessibility on walking trails in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40129/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas.

In 2021 the scheme encouraged local authorities and local development companies to look at outdoor recreational infrastructure that provides an inclusive approach for communities, supporting a diverse range of users, including people with disabilities and older adults.

My Department worked closely with Cara - Sport Inclusion Ireland to develop the scheme outline. It also engaged Cara to provide Outdoor Recreation Disability Awareness workshops for local authorities and local development companies.

The closing date for applications under Measure 1 of ORIS 2021 has passed and the assessment of these applications has commenced. The closing date for applications under Measures 2, 3 and the Project Development Measure is 30th July 2021.

My Department does not hold specific information regarding wheelchair accessibility on the walking trails it funded in the past. However, the scheme has supported wheelchair accessible projects including at Garrykennedy Amenity Area in Co. Tipperary, Clare Glens at Murroe in Co. Limerick and Beach Wheelchairs in Co. Kerry.