Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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875. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason voluntary labour is not taken into account as part of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme 2024; if his Department will reconsider its inclusion in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6031/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Since the launch of the scheme, funding of over €129 million has been approved for more than 1,770 projects nationwide.

Under the ORIS 2024/2025 scheme, contribution in kind which includes voluntary labour is not an eligible source of match funding. This approach is aligned with other investment schemes implemented by my Department. It is also of note that the rate of funding under the scheme has been amended in recent years, whereby the match funding requirement has reduced from 20% to 10%. This 10% match funding can be by way of a contribution by the successful applicant and/or the community group and/or philanthropic contributions. Thus, there is considerable flexibility in place in relation to match funding. As each iteration of the Scheme is launched, the terms and conditions of the scheme are reviewed by my Department.