Eisiúint Meáin: Fógraíonn an tAire Calleary €8.7 milliún do 221 tionscadal áineasa lasmuigh
Media release
Thursday, 14 August 2025
Minister Calleary announces €8.7 million for 221 outdoor recreation projects
- Continued investment in recreational facilities such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based amenities and mountain access routes through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS)
- Directly supports the ambition of the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’
During a visit to the Warren Way trail in County Sligo, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Thursday, 14 August 2025) announced €8.7 million to deliver 221 recreational based projects nationwide through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
The funding announced today is in respect of Measure 1 (small scale repair and development of recreational infrastructure) and the Project Development Measure of the Scheme. Further announcements in respect of Measures 2 and 3 of the Scheme will be made later this year.
The 221 projects announced today cover every county and include enhancement works on walking and cycling trails, improvements to signage, provision of parking and trail furniture, and support for the marketing and promotion of our outdoor recreational facilities.
Among the projects being funded include walking trails, mountain access routes and outdoor swimming amenities such as:
- County Donegal – Dungloe: To improve and enhance the Dungloe River and Cope Mountain Looped Walk – €40,000.
- County Kerry – MacGillycuddy Reeks: To carry out works on the Caher Mountain trail in the MacGillycuddy Reeks – €39,870.
- County Wicklow – Wicklow: Installation of a Sea-Trac system in Wicklow Harbour to create independent swimming access for those with a physical disability – €40,000.
- County Mayo – Lahardane: Development of a trail from the Titanic Park in Lahardane towards Nephin car park – €40,000.
- County Monaghan – Lough Muckno: Phase II of the Lough Muckno sensory area and inclusive outdoor recreation space – €40,000.
- County Sligo – Warren Way: Trailhead surfacing and trail resurfacing on the Warren Way – €40,000.
- County Clare – Scariff River: Detailed design preparation for planning of a canoe trail, slalom course and whitewater rafting centre on the river Scariff.
- County Limerick – Ballylanders: Screening and consultations to develop off-road connection between Griston Bog and Ballylanders. – €50,000.
Speaking today, Minister Calleary said:
“Investment in the outdoors is so important to us all from a physical and mental health perspective. I am very happy to be making this announcement today which will see over a wide range of capital projects developed and delivered all across the country, adding to our already impressive outdoor recreation offering.
“The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme continues to deliver on the commitments in Our Rural Future and the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, and builds on unprecedented levels of investment in the sector in recent years.”
“I very much welcome today’s announcement which sees a further 221 projects brought to fruition through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. Funding provided under this scheme continues to deliver and enhance our recreational offering which is of huge importance to us from a community wellbeing perspective, as well as being a catalyst for tourism in rural areas.
“I want to commend the various community groups who collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and enhance recreational amenities in their locality.”
Minister Calleary concluded by saying:
“I have seen firsthand the significant difference investments under this fund have made. I recently attended the national outdoor recreation conference in Limerick, and it was clear that all of the key stakeholders are working together to develop and enhance this vitally important sector in a sustainable and inclusive manner. As Minister with responsibility for this area, I am committed to continuing to develop and grow our recreational amenities.
“I want to congratulate the successful applicants announced today and I look forward to announcing the larger scale projects under measures 2 and 3 of the 2024/25 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in the coming months.”
Details of the 221 projects announced today are available here.
Eisiúint Meáin
Déardaoin, an 14 Lúnasa 2025
Fógraíonn an tAire Calleary €8.7 milliún do 221 tionscadal áineasa lasmuigh
- Infheistíocht leanúnach in áiseanna áineasa ar nós conairí siúil, bealaí rothaíochta, áiseanna uiscebhunaithe agus bealaí rochtana sléibhe tríd an Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa Allamuigh (SIÁA)
- Tacaíonn sé go díreach le huaillmhian na Straitéise Náisiúnta Áineasa Allamuigh ‘Ag Glacadh le Saol na hÉireann faoin Aer’
Inniu, Déardaoin, an 14 Lúnasa 2025, le linn cuairte ar chonair an Bhairínigh i gContae Shligigh, d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, €8.7 milliún chun 221 tionscadal áineasa a sheachadadh ar fud na tíre tríd an Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa Allamuigh (SIÁA).
Tá an maoiniú a fógraíodh inniu i leith Beart 1 (deisiú agus forbairt infreastruchtúr áineasa ar scála beag) agus Beart Forbartha Tionscadail na Scéime. Déanfar tuilleadh fógraí maidir le Bearta 2 agus 3 den Scéim níos déanaí i mbliana.
Clúdaíonn na 221 tionscadal a fógraíodh inniu gach contae agus áirítear leo oibreacha feabhsúcháin ar chosáin siúil agus rothaíochta, feabhsuithe ar chomharthaíocht, soláthar páirceála agus troscáin cosáin, agus tacaíocht do mhargaíocht agus do chur chun cinn ár n-áiseanna áineasa lasmuigh.
I measc na dtionscadal atá á maoiniú tá conairí siúil, bealaí rochtana sléibhe agus áiseanna snámha lasmuigh ar nós:
- Contae Dhún na nGall – An Clochán Liath: Chun Abhainn an Chlocháin Léith agus Siúlóid Lúbtha na Sléibhe a fheabhsú – €40,000.
- Contae Chiarraí – Na Cruacha Dubha: Chun oibreacha a dhéanamh ar chosán Shliabh na Cathrach sna Cruacha Dubha – €39,870.
- Contae Chill Mhantáin – Cill Mhantáin: Suiteáil chóras Sea-Trac i gcuan Chill Mhantáin chun rochtain snámha neamhspleách a chruthú dóibh siúd atá faoi mhíchumas fisiciúil – €40,000.
- Contae Mhaigh Eo – Leathardán: Forbairt conaire ó Pháirc Titanic i Leathardán i dtreo charrchlós Néifinne – €40,000.
- Contae Mhuineacháin – Loch Mhucnú: Céim II de limistéar céadfach Loch Mhucnú agus spás áineasa lasmuigh cuimsitheach – €40,000.
- Contae Shligigh – Slí an Bhairínigh: Dromchlú ceann conaire agus athdhromchlú conaire ar Shlí an Bhairínigh – €40,000.
- Contae an Chláir – Abhainn na Scairbhe: Ullmhúchán dearadh mionsonraithe le haghaidh pleanáil conair canú, cúrsa slalóim agus ionad raftála uisce bán ar abhainn na Scairbhe.
- Contae Luimnigh – Baile an Londraigh: Scagthástáil agus comhairliúcháin chun nasc easbhóthair a fhorbairt idir Portach na gCríostúnach agus Baile an Londraigh. – €50,000.
Ag labhairt inniu, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tá infheistíocht in áiseanna áinéasa thar a bheith tábhachtach dúinn go léir ó thaobh na sláinte coirp agus meabhrach de. Tá an-áthas orm an fógra seo a dhéanamh inniu ina ndéanfar réimse leathan tionscadal caipitil a fhorbairt agus a sheachadadh ar fud na tíre, ag cur lenár dtairiscint áineasa faoin aer atá suntasach cheana féin.
“Leanann an Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa Allamuigh de bheith ag comhlíonadh na ngealltanas in Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe agus sa Straitéis Náisiúnta Áineasa Allamuigh, ‘Ag Glacadh le Saol na hÉireann faoin Aer’, agus tógann sí ar leibhéil infheistíochta nach bhfacthas riamh cheana san earnáil le blianta beaga anuas.”
Ag labhairt ag an bhfógra, dúirt an tAire Stáit le freagracht speisialta as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer T.D.:
“Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh fhógra 221 tionscadal breise á dtabhairt chun críche tríd an Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa Allamuigh. Leanann an maoiniú a chuirtear ar fáil faoin Scéim seo de bheith ag soláthar agus ag feabhsú ár dtairiscint áineasa, rud atá thar a bheith tábhachtach dúinn ó thaobh folláine an phobail de, chomh maith le turasóireacht faoin tuath a spreagadh.
“Molaim na grúpaí pobail éagsúla a chomhoibríonn le páirtithe leasmhara tábhachtacha chun áiseanna áineasa a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú ina gceantar áitiúil.”
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Chonaic mé féin an difríocht shuntasach a dhéanann infheistíocht faoin gCiste seo. D’fhreastail mé le déanaí ar an gcomhdháil náisiúnta áineasa lasmuigh i Luimneach, agus bhí sé soiléir go bhfuil na páirtithe leasmhara tábhachtacha go léir ag obair le chéile chun an earnáil ríthábhachtach seo a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú ar bhealach inbhuanaithe agus cuimsitheach. Mar Aire atá freagrach as an réimse seo, táim tiomanta do leanúint ar aghaidh ag forbairt agus ag fás ár n-áiseanna áineasa.
“Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na hiarratasóirí rathúla a fógraíodh inniu agus táim ag tnúth le fógairt na dtionscadal níos mó faoi bhearta 2 agus 3 de Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa Allamuigh 2024/25 sna míonna amach romhainn.”
Tá sonraí na 221 tionscadal a fógraíodh inniu ar fáil anseo.