From Department of Rural and Community Development
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. It also provides support for the necessary repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas across Ireland.
ORIS provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas. It funds trails, cycleways, blueways, bridleways, outdoor amenities located near rivers, lakes and beaches.
The scheme invests in the physical infrastructure that underpins sporting and recreational activities based on the use of the resources of the countryside; these contribute to healthy active lifestyles while building on the economic and tourism potential of the area, and so are to the benefit of both local communities and tourist visitors alike. The scheme may also provide some limited funding for the marketing and promotion of such infrastructure, typically as part of a wider project involving capital supports.
The Scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with Fáilte Ireland.
Applications are accepted from Local Authorities (All Measures), Local Development Companies (Measure 1) and State Bodies (Measure 3 and Project Development Measure) under the scheme:
Coillte is the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Ireland with significant outdoor recreation infrastructure across its properties. It has over 300 recreation sites and thousands of individual forest properties throughout the country.
The Department has a strategic partnership in place with Coillte and provides funding of in excess of €2 million annually to Coillte to enhance their recreational facilities and to support increased tourism and economic activity in rural areas.
