Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Under the EU Just Transition Fund, Fáilte Ireland has been tasked with the administration of €68 million for a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme 2023-2026. Through this scheme, Fáilte Ireland is investing in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities.

There are two main elements to the overall scheme:

1. €38m towards the diversification of the regional economy through the sustainable development of tourism.
2. €30m towards the regeneration and repurposing of peatlands through the development of a network of trails.

The overall scheme is being delivered through a range of funding programmes, which will run in parallel between now and the end of 2026, as follows:

• Scheme A: Trail Network Development Scheme (delivered primarily through Bord na Mona)
• Scheme B: Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for SMEs
• Scheme C & D: Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Local Authorities and certain State Agencies
• Scheme E: Appointment of County Tourism Activators to Local Authorities
• Scheme F: Enterprise Supports Scheme

The overall scheme will develop the midlands into a leading regenerative tourism destination, creating more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit the Midlands while also sustaining jobs, businesses and local communities in the region. It will also support the transition of the Midlands to a carbon neutral destination through funding of sustainable tourism projects that are designed to have significant regenerative impacts on local communities and peatlands.

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund, Scheme A: Trail Network Development Scheme will be the first to be developed under the Midlands Trails Network (MTN) which seeks to create a lattice work of connected walking and cycling trails across the midlands.

A development fund of €3.6million was awarded to BnM (formerly Bord na Móna) in June 2024 to bring 6 universally accessible trail networks across suitable parts of their landbank within the EU Just Transition Fund territory through the planning process. The network, once complete, could deliver up to 70 kilometres of trail, subject to planning consents. These new routes will connect with existing national and regional greenways and local community trails, creating enhanced opportunities for outdoor recreation, community engagement, and tourism growth.

In July 2025, I along with my colleague Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and for Transport, Darragh O’Brien were pleased to announce that Fáilte Ireland has allocated a further €5.7 million to BnM for the construction of two new walking and cycling trails in Longford and Westmeath, the first 10km of trails in County Longford and 6km in County Westmeath. In addition a further 4 trail sections within the EU Just Transition Fund territory are also currently in the planning process and I hope to be in a position to make further announcements on this in the near future.