Eisiúint Meáin: Fógraíonn an tAire Calleary €16.5 mhilliún do 63 thionscadal áineasa lasmuigh
Media release
Monday, 3 November 2025
Minister Calleary announces over €16.5 million for 63 outdoor recreation projects
- Investment in recreational facilities such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based amenities and mountain access routes
- Projects directly support the ambition of the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy: ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’
During a visit to Clare Island in Co. Mayo, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Monday, 3 November 2025) announced €16.5 million to deliver 63 projects nationwide through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
The funding announced today is in respect of Measures 2 and 3 of the scheme which provides funding of up to €500,000 for strategic repair and maintenance of existing facilities together with the development of new recreational infrastructure.
Among the 63 projects announced today, which are located across every county in Ireland, are walking trails, mountain access projects, and outdoor water-based amenities. Examples of these projects include:
- Co. Cavan – Kingscourt: Development of a greenway hub in Kingscourt with car parking and seating – €500,000.
- Co. Cork – Durrus: Phase II linking the initial phase of the walkway with Durrus Village – €196,395.
- Co. Donegal – Carrigart to Downings: Final phase of works to complete the walkway between Carrigart and Downings- €500,000.
- Co. Louth – Boyne Greenway: Enhancement and extension of the North Bank of the Boyne Greenway including widening, resurfacing and relining of paths and installation of lighting. – €500,000.
- Co. Mayo – Clare Island: Upgrade existing Clewbay bike trail path to a standard that allows accessibility for all – €500,000.
- Co. Waterford – Villierstown: Villierstown Quay enhancement and upgrade to facilitate water based outdoor recreation activities. €200,000
- Co. Wicklow – Djouce Mountain: Djouce Mountain Trail construction and habitat restoration. – €445,500.
Speaking today, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to make this significant funding announcement today for outdoor recreational facilities. This investment will further enhance these spaces which not only act as recreational and social spaces for our communities but also add greatly to our tourism sector.
“Today’s announcement, on Clare Island, will see a wide range of capital projects delivered across the country covering walking and cycling trails, upland paths, and enhancements in water-based activities. This is all further delivering on the objectives of our national outdoor recreation strategy Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors.”
The 63 projects announced today are in addition to the 221 projects announced by Minister Calleary in August. The funding allocated under the 2024/2025 programme now stands at over €25.27 million, the largest approval to date under ORIS.
Minister Calleary concluded by saying:
“The funding for the project that I have announced for Clare Island will see upgrade works on the existing path so that the Clewbay bike trail can be extended further into the island. This project is the outcome of true collaboration between many stakeholders, and indeed it is investment that supports a number of my department’s objectives.”
Minister Calleary today also confirmed that the Second Progress Report for Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors has now been published on the Department’s website. The report outlines the significant progress being made across the range of important actions in the strategy. A copy of the report is available here.
Details of the 63 projects announced today are available here.
Eisiúint Meáin
Dé Luain, an 3 Samhain 2025
Fógraíonn an tAire Calleary €16.5 mhilliún do 63 thionscadal áineasa lasmuigh
- Infheistíocht in áiseanna áineasa ar nós conairí siúil, bealaí rothaíochta, áiseanna uiscebhunaithe agus bealaí rochtana sléibhe
- Tacaíonn tionscadail go díreach le spriocanna an Straitéis Náisiúnta um Áineas Allamuigh: ‘Saol na hÉireann faoin Aer a Spreagadh’
Le linn cuairte ar Chliara, d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, €16.5 mhilliún chun 63 thionscadal áineasa a sheachadadh ar fud na tíre tríd an Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa Allamuigh (SIÁA).
Tá an maoiniú a fógraíodh inniu i leith Bearta 2 agus 3 den scéim a sholáthraíonn maoiniú suas le €500,000 le haghaidh deisiúcháin agus cothabhála straitéiseacha ar áiseanna atá ann cheana féin mar aon le forbairt bonneagar áineasa nua.
I measc na 63 thionscadal a fógraíodh inniu, atá lonnaithe ar fud gach contae in Éirinn, tá cosáin siúil, tionscadail rochtana sléibhe, agus áiseanna uisce lasmuigh. I measc samplaí de na tionscadail seo tá:
- Co. an Chabháin – Dún an Rí: Forbairt moil ar an nglasbhealach i nDún an Rí le carrchlós agus suíocháin – €500,000.
- Co. Chorcaí – Dúras: Céim II ag nascadh an chéad chéim den chosán le Sráidbhaile Dúras – €196,395.
- Co. Dhún na nGall – Carraig Airt go dtí na Dúnaibh: Céim dheiridh na n-oibreacha chun an cosán idir Carraig Airt agus na Dúnaibh a chríochnú – €500,000.
- Contae Lú – Glasbhealach na Bóinne: Feabhsú agus síneadh ar Bhruach Thuaidh Ghlasbhealach na Bóinne lena n-áirítear leathnú, athdhromchlú agus athlíneáil cosán agus cur suas soilsithe. – €500,000.
- Co. Mhaigh Eo – Cliara: Uasghrádú a dhéanamh ar chosán rothaíochta atá ann cheana féin i gCuan Mó go caighdeán a thugann inrochtaineacht do chách – €500,000.
- Co. Phort Láirge – an Baile Nua: Feabhsú agus uasghrádú ar Ché an Bhaile Nua chun gníomhaíochtaí áineasa lasmuigh uiscebhunaithe a éascú. €200,000
- Co. Chill Mhantáin – Dioghais: Tógáil agus athchóiriú gnáthóige ar Chosán Dhioghsa. – €445,500.
Ag labhairt inniu, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tá áthas orm an fógra suntasach maoinithe seo a dhéanamh inniu le haghaidh áiseanna áineasa lasmuigh. Cuirfidh an infheistíocht seo feabhas breise ar na spásanna seo a fheidhmíonn ní hamháin mar spásanna áineasa agus sóisialta dár bpobail ach a chuireann go mór lenár n-earnáil turasóireachta freisin.
“Leis an bhfógra inniu ar Chliara, feicfear réimse leathan tionscadal caipitil a sheachadadh ar fud na tíre a chlúdaíonn conairí siúil agus rothaíochta, cosáin sléibhe, agus feabhsuithe ar ghníomhaíochtaí uiscebhunaithe. Tá sé seo go léir ag comhlíonadh cuspóirí ár straitéis náisiúnta áineasa lasmuigh, Saol na hÉireann faoin Aer a Spreagadh.”
Tá na 63 thionscadal a fógraíodh inniu sa bhreis ar na 221 thionscadal a d’fhógair an tAire Calleary i mí Lúnasa. Tá an maoiniú a leithdháileadh faoi chlár 2024/2025 anois os cionn €25.27 milliún, an ceadú is mó go dtí seo faoin Scéim.
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Mar chuid den mhaoiniú don tionscadal a d’fhógair mé do Chliara, feicfear oibreacha uasghrádaithe ar an gcosán atá ann cheana féin ionas gur féidir cosán rothaíochta Chliara a leathnú níos faide isteach san oileán. Is toradh comhoibrithe idir go leor páirtithe leasmhara an tionscadal seo, agus go deimhin is infheistíocht í a thacaíonn le cuspóirí mo Roinne.”
Dheimhnigh an tAire Calleary gur foilsíodh an Dara Tuarascáil ar Dhul Chun Cinn maidir le Saol na hÉireann faoin Aer ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne. Leagtar amach sa tuarascáil an dul chun cinn suntasach atá á dhéanamh ar fud raon na ngníomhartha tábhachtacha sa straitéis. Tá cóip den tuarascáil ar fáil anseo.
Tá sonraí na 63 thionscadal a fógraíodh inniu ar fáil anseo.