Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Minister Joe O’Brien encourages Fingal County Council to apply to €14 Million Fund to support outdoor adventure activities

23rd April, 2021

Minister Joe O’Brien (Green Party)

Fingal

23rd April 2021

 

Minister Joe O’Brien encourages Fingal County Council to apply to €14 Million Fund to support outdoor adventure activities

 

  • Fund to develop recreational activities at mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, beaches and bogs
  • Investment will support Tidal Pools, Floating Boardwalks, Mountain Trails, Forest Walks, Greenways & Blueways
  • Focus on supporting adventure activities such as kayaking, mountaineering, surfing, paragliding and outdoor swimming

 Minister Joe O’Brien has welcomed that today (23.04.2021) his Department have opened a call for applications for €14 million in funding for outdoor recreation projects and investment that will support the adventure tourism sector.

Minister O’Brien said:

“This funding is aimed at developing Ireland’s unique natural amenities and support outdoor pursuits.  It will provide for significant investment in the development of outdoor trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways, tidal pools and floating boardwalks’

“Fingal has an abundance of natural beauty and the potential to develop sites to support increased outdoor activity is huge.  COVID-19 has seen a huge upsurge in people’s appreciation for the outdoors and through this fund Fingal’s fantastic outdoor amenities and coastal routes can be developed so that more people can access them and enjoy them.”

“There are three categories, Measure 1 for small scale projects, Measure 2 of medium scale projects and upgrades and Measure 3 for large scale projects.  The deadline for applications is 30/06/2021 for Meaure 1 and 30/07/2021 for Measures 2 and 3.”

“I would love to see applications coming forward from Fingal seeking to develop sites and improve access to beaches, forest walks, cycleways, outdoor swimming and much more.”

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund is open to Local Authorities, State Bodies (EG. Coillte, Waterways Ireland) and Local Development Companies.

 Applicants should identify projects which will support the increased use of, and access to, natural amenities in their areas e.g. mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, bogs, beaches.

ENDS

 

For more information please contact johanna.walsh@oireachtas.ie

 

Notes for Editor:

 

Examples of activities which applicants should have in mind when submitting applications for the 2021 Scheme include:

Land-Based Water-Based Air-Based
Walking Canoeing/ Kayaking Paragliding
Hillwalking/Hiking Rowing Hang-gliding
Leisure cycling Open water swimming  
Mountain biking Surfing  
Horse riding Coasteering  
Trail/Off-road running Wind surfing/Kite surfing  
Orienteering Sailing  
Bouldering, scrambling, rock climbing, mountaineering Diving  
  Paddle-boarding  
  Angling/fishing  

 

Other related projects include tidal pools, forest walks, mountain access routes, trail access to birdwatching locations, floating boardwalks on lakes / bogs, and natural play areas included as part of larger trail or other outdoor recreation infrastructure project.

 

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) will provide funding as follows:

Measure 1 –

  • Small scale repair/development/promotion and marketing.
  • Funding of up to €20,000 at a 90% rate of aid.
  • Maximum of 7 applications can be submitted by each Local Authority.
  • Maximum of 3 applications (increased from 2 in 2020) can be submitted by each Local Development Company.

Measure 2 –

  • Medium scale upgrade and new trail/amenity development.
  • Funding of up to €200,000 at a 90% rate of aid.
  • Maximum of 3 applications can be submitted by each Local Authority.

Measure 3 –

  • Large scale repair/upgrade and new strategic trail/amenity development
  • Funding of up to €500,000 at a 90% rate of aid
  • Maximum of one application can be submitted by each Local Authority  or State Body e.g. Coillte.

A Project Development Measure has been included on a trial basis which funds–

  • Development costs for strategic large scale Measure 2 or Measure 3 type projects e.g. detailed design, preparation for the planning and/or procurement, appropriate assessment etc.
  • Funding of up to €50,000 at a 90% rate of aid
  • Maximum of one proposal can be submitted by any Local Authority.

The deadline for applications for Measure 1 is 30th June 2021

The deadline for applications for Measures 2, 3 & the Project Development Measure is 30th July 2021.

ORIS is delivered by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with Fáilte Ireland.