Eisiúint Meáin: Comhpháirtíocht chúig bhliana le Bord na Móna fógartha ag an Aire Calleary chun tacú le conairí áineasa i gcúig chontae
Media Release
Monday, 11th August 2025
Minister Calleary announces five year partnership with Bord na Móna to support recreation trails in five counties
- €350,000 over five years to maintain the midlands trail network and Lough Boora trails
- Strategic partnership designed to boost tourism and enhance amenities for rural communities
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Monday, 11th August 2025) announced details of €350,000 funding that his department will be providing as part of a new five-year strategic partnership with BnM (formerly known as Bord na Móna) designed to support and maintain new trail facilities being developed on lands across five counties: Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary and Westmeath.
Announcing the funding, Minister Calleary said:
“In recognition of the significant investment already being undertaken through the EU Just Transition Fund to create a midlands trail network across BnM’s landbank, my department is entering into a five year strategic partnership with BnM to support the ongoing maintenance of these new trails. The funding will also support a number of trails within the Lough Boora Discovery Park.
“The new trail network, developed under the Just Transition Fund, opens up wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities. This unique opportunity is coming to life through BnM’s network of railways, bridges, bog roads and off-road trails and waterways.
“New landscapes and habitats, previously inaccessible to recreational users, will be open to be explored for cyclists and walkers alike.
“Significant EU and exchequer funds have been invested in this trail network and it is important that the trails are maintained to a high standard in years to come.
“In order to protect this investment, my department, is happy to partner with BnM to support and maintain these facilities for future generations.”
BnM CEO Tom Donnellan said:
“BnM is working with our landbank, strategic partners and local communities to develop our renewable energy infrastructure and deliver on Ireland’s net zero ambition.
“BnM’s partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is part of our commitment to create long-term social and environmental value for communities in the Midlands in addition to safeguarding Ireland’s renewable energy supply.
“These new amenities will contribute to the ongoing revitalisation of the Midlands, alongside BnM’s Eco Energy Park and Renewable Energy projects and I want thank Minister Calleary and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for their support.”
Eisiúint Meáin
Dé Luain, 11 Lúnasa 2025
Comhpháirtíocht chúig bhliana le Bord na Móna fógartha ag an Aire Calleary chun tacú le conairí áineasa i gcúig chontae
- €350,000 ar feadh cúig bliana chun líonra na gconairí Lár Tíre agus conairí Loch na Buaraí a chothabháil
- Comhpháirtíocht straitéiseach ceaptha chun borradh a chur faoin turasóireacht agus áiseanna a fheabhsú do phobail tuaithe
Inniu (Dé Luain, 11 Lúnasa 2025) d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, na mionsonraí faoi mhaoiniú de €350,000 a bheidh á chur ar fáil ag a Roinn mar pháirt de chomhpháirtíocht straitéiseach chúig bliana le BnM (ar a dtugtaí Bord na Móna roimhe seo) atá ceaptha chun tacaíocht a thabhairt agus cothabháil a dhéanamh i gcomhair conairí atá á bhforbairt ar thailte i gcúig chontae: An Longfort, Uíbh Fhailí, Ros Comáin, Tiobraid Árann agus an Iarmhí
Agus an maoiniú á fhógairt aige, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Mar aitheantas ar an infheistíocht shuntasach atá ag tarlú cheana féin tríd an gCiste um Aistriú Cóir de chuid an AE chun líonra conairí Lár Tíre a chruthú ar fud bhunachar talún BnM, tá mo roinn ag tabhairt faoi chomhpháirtíocht straitéiseach chúig bhliana le BnM chun tacú le cothabháil leanúnach na gconairí nua seo. Tacóidh an maoiniú seo le roinnt conairí laistigh de Pháirc Thaiscéalaíochta Loch na Buaraí.
“Leis an líonra conairí nua arna fhorbairt faoin gCiste um Aistriú Cóir, tá an-deiseanna áineasa faoin aer á n-oscailt. Tá deis uathúil ag teacht ar an bhfód ar líonra iarnród, droichead, bóithre portaigh, conairí easbhóthair agus uiscebhealaí de chuid BnM.
“Beidh timpeallachtaí agus gnáthóga nua, nach raibh rochtain ag cuairteoirí fóillíochta orthu roimhe, ar oscailt do rothaithe agus siúlóirí araon.
“Tá maoiniú suntasach ón AE agus ón Státchiste curtha isteach sa líonra conairí seo agus is tábhachtach go gcoinnítear na conairí ar ardchaighdeán sna blianta amach romhainn.
“Chun gur féidir an infheistíocht seo a chosaint, tá mo roinn sásta dul i gcomhpháirt le BnM chun na tacú leis na háiseanna seo agus iad a chaomhnú do na glúine amach romhainn.”
Dúirt POF BnM, Tom Donnellan:
“Tá BnM ag obair lenár mbunachar talún, lenár gcomhpháirtithe straitéiseacha agus le pobail áitiúla chun ár n-infreastruchtúr fuinnimh in-athnuaite a fhorbairt agus sprioc neodrachta carbóin na hÉireann a thabhairt i gcrích.
“Tá comhpháirtíocht BnM leis an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta mar chuid dár dtiomantas chun luach fadtéarmach sóisialta agus comhshaoil a chruthú do phobail sa cheantar Lár Tíre, chomh maith le soláthar fuinnimh in-athnuaite na hÉireann a chosaint.
“Leis na háiseanna nua seo cuirfear le hathbheochan leanúnach an Cheantair Lár Tíre, in éineacht le tionscadail Eco Energy Park agus Fuinnimh In-athnuaite de chuid BnM, agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Calleary agus leis an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta as a dtacaíocht”.