€20 million is now available for investment towards the 2026-27 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which provides funding for the development and maintenance of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas and will support hundreds of outdoor recreation projects nationwide.
The scheme was launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, while he was in Co. Monaghan at the official opening of recreational enhancements on Black Island, Lough Muckno, a project that received over €500,000 in ORIS funding in 2022.
Now in its tenth year, the scheme has to date invested over €150 million in over 2,000 recreation projects at our mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, blue-ways, bogs, forest walks and upland areas.
THREE STRANDS OF FUNDING
Funding under the 2026-2027 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme will provide support across three main measures with funding of up to €40,000 for Small Scale repairs, maintenance, promotion and marketing under Measure 1. Under Measure 2, grant amounts of up to €200,000 are available for medium scale repair/ maintenance/upgrade and new trail/amenity development. Finally, grants of up to €500,000 are available in Measure 3 for strategic large-scale repair/upgrade and new strategic trail/amenity development.
In addition, an enhanced Project Development Measure (PDM) will support lead applicants in delivering a pipeline of shovel ready projects for future funding rounds.
Applications are invited from local authorities, local development companies and state bodies, in consultation with local communities and aligning with emerging project recommendations from new county outdoor recreation plans that are being developed across the country.
CHANGES
Groups with an idea for a project are being encouraged to engage with their local authority or local development company, according to the minister.
“I am pleased to be providing greater flexibility to local authorities and local development companies to fund the pre development work required for new projects, including for equestrian trails, and also to be permitting an additional project application from one Gaeltacht or island area in each county as appropriate. I have also clarified the role that this scheme can play in undertaking capital maintenance works on existing amenities.”
