Minister Calleary launches €20 million fund to support Outdoor Recreation in rural areas
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 3 June 2026
- Last updated on: 3 June 2026
- Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme now open for applications
- Targeted funding for Gaeltacht and Island communities
- Enhanced funding for project development and maintenance of existing amenities
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has launched the 2026-2027 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) with €20 million available for investment.
The Minister launched the scheme while 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.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 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.
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.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said:
“I am delighted to be announcing this significant funding package today that will continue to deliver for the outdoor recreation sector. The projects we have delivered in the last ten years have not only supported our physical and mental wellbeing, but they have also been a driver of economic benefit in some of the most beautiful parts of our country.
“Through ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, the national outdoor recreation strategy, my Department is working to transform the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland.
“I want to acknowledge the tremendous efforts made by all the volunteers and committees who have worked with lead applicants in the past ten years in delivering for our country and I look forward to continuing to deliver with you into the future.”
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.
The Minister concluded by saying:
“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.
“I look forward to announcing the successful projects under this fund in due course and would encourage groups with an idea for a project to engage with their local authority or local development company who will be happy to support them.”
Notes
The 2026-27 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme with an allocation of €20 million with support for the development and maintenance of recreational projects nationwide.
Funding is available under four measures;
- Measure 1: Small Scale Repair/Maintenance/Development/Promotion and Marketing (Grant Amounts: Up to €40,000)
- Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair/ Maintenance/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity Development (Grant Amounts: Up to €200,000)
- Measure 3: Strategic Large-Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Strategic Trail/Amenity Development (Grant amounts: Up to €500,000)
- Project Development Measure: Development costs for New Projects (Grant amounts: vary up to combined maximum of €100,000 per local authority or €70,000 per local development company)
Gaeltacht and the Islands:
- Local authorities may submit one additional Project Development Measure for a project valued at up to €50,000 if they have offshore islands or Gaeltacht areas
- Local authorities can submit one additional application under Measure 1 if they have offshore islands or Gaeltacht areas.
New for 2026:
- Local authorities may also submit one additional application to the value of €50,000 to support the predevelopment work required to develop equestrian trails/bridleways This is with a view to increasing the number of these facilities in a targeted way.
Applications under measure 1 and the PDM will close on 25 September, with measure 2 and 3 applications being accepted to 15 December.