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Mr Michael Ring T.D., Minister of State for Regional Economic Development at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs today (28/10/2016 ), announced the provision of funding totalling €3.11 million for rural recreation projects as part of the Government’s continued programme to support rural development.

The funding will facilitate the development of new recreational facilities and the maintenance and promotion of existing recreational infrastructure across 45 projects throughout Ireland.

Speaking today, Minister Ring said “I am delighted to be in a position to announce this second round of funding on top of €4.3 million provided last month. This continued funding will ensure the maintenance of existing recreational facilities and the development of some new and exciting outdoor facilities across the country. This is further support for rural recreational facilities by my Department and reinforces the Government’s commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to support Rural Ireland.

“Investment in recreational facilities has a proven effect in boosting local economies and assisting in the creation and retention of employment in the hospitality, tourism and services sectors in rural Ireland.”

Minister Ring added, “The importance and popularity of recreational pursuits in the Irish countryside continues to grow and develop and there is great potential to benefit our rural economy. It is crucial, therefore, that we exploit this potential and maximise its impact by the strategic provision of world class amenities and facilities for the enjoyment

of local residents and visitors alike. This in turn will help underpin the rural economy through the creation of sustainable employment.”

Figures available from Fáilte Ireland reveal that in 2014, close to 1.2million visitors to Ireland took part in hiking or cross country walking. These activity tourists spent in the region of €915 million in the Irish economy during their stay. Similar statistics reveal that 286,000 visitors took part in cycling activities with a related spend of some €268 million. These two sectors combined generated revenue for the Irish economy in the region of €1.2 billion in 2014.

In total now 118 projects are being funded under the 2016 Rural Recreation Scheme. These projects cover a broad spectrum, and range from Walking Trails to Greenways and feature a number of water based initiatives covering Blueways and Angling activities. The projects cover a wide geographical area, with all 26 counties receiving funding for development and/or maintenance works to date.

The announcement is part of the Governments programme for rural development that includes the €10 million investment in a Town and Village Renewal scheme, €5 million investment in a 2016 Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) Scheme and the €3 million allocated to the re-opening of the CLÁR scheme.
ENDS

The table below represents projects being funded under this second round of allocations.

Organisation County Sub Area Brief outline of Proposal Amount by Applicant
Carlow County Council Carlow Kildavin South Leinster Way Signage & Maintenance €67,500.00
Coillte National All Areas Necessary Maintenance on Coillte sections of Trails €1,306,880.00
Cork County Council Cork Douglas Landscaping & Street Furniture Douglas
Cork County Council Cork Ballincollig Regional Park Ballincollig Walking Trail
Cork County Council Cork Mallow River Bank Walk Enhancement in Mallow
Cork County Council Cork Carrigaline Trail Maintenance works in Carrigaline
Cork County Council Cork Passage West Landscaping at Railway Walk in Passage West €335,000.00
Donegal Local Devel. Company Ltd. Donegal Donegal County Design & prod. Maps/prod. Route cards €20,287.00
Galway County Council Galway Ballinasloe Hymany Way - Clonbrock Ahascragh €60,000.00
Kerry County Council Kerry Killarney Gneeveguilla Walk Feasibility Study
Kerry County Council Kerry Tarbert WAW Amenity Area Tarbert €71,000.00
Leitrim County Council Leitrim Belturbet to Dromod Cavan and Leitrim Railway Greenway Pilot Project €190,000.00
Longford County Council Longford Longford Town Development of a Pedestrian Bridge €190,000.00
Mayo County Council Mayo Keenagh Drunleen Lough Loop walk €60,000.00
Meath County Council Meath Kells Harvest Walk - Walking Trail in Kells €50,000.00
Monaghan Co. Council Monaghan Carrickmacross Development of a Linear Park and carpark
Monaghan Co. Council Monaghan Ballybay Improve jetty and slipway and provide a carpark €157,079.00
National Parks & Wildlife Meath Kells Drewstown Woods - Girley Bog Walk
National Parks & Wildlife Wicklow County Wicklow Provision of Counters on Wicklow Walking Trails €66,560.63
South West Mayo Development Co Mayo Srahmore to Letterkeen Drainage, route definition and bridge €12,600.00
Tipperary County Council Tipperary Munster Munster Vales Information Pack
Tipperary County Council Tipperary Clare/Galway/Tipperary Lough Derg Information Pack €17,920.00
Waterways Ireland Leitrim Drumshanbo Shannon Blueway - Acres Lake to Drumshanbo €500,000.00
West Cork Development Partnership Cork Schull Park Walk €6,000.00
€3,110,826.63