Four Offaly walking way projects receive funding
Four Offaly projects are to receive funding of some €68,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
The allocations were announced recently by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys as part of a national funding allocation of €3.5 million to support 189 outdoor projects across the country.
The scheme is designed to support the enhancement of dozens of recreational amenities such as our mountain trails, forest walks, beaches, rivers, lakes, blueways and greenways.
Projects across every county have been chosen for investment of up to €20,000 under Measure 1 of the scheme is aimed at small scale repair/development/promotion and marketing.
Funding for larger projects under Measure 2 and 3 of the scheme will be announced by Minister Humphreys in the coming weeks.
The projects to be funded in Offaly include small scale repairs of the Ormond Way, of the Slieve Bloom Way and ancillary loops at Cadamstown and Kinnitty and of the Offaly Way and ancillary loops at Kilcormac & Lough Boora.
Each of these three projects receives €18,000.
Some €14,000 has been allocated for work on the Cloghan Amenity Walk.
This is to develop additional trails, works will include levelling and raising wet sections and reseeding the existing peat surface, the upgrade of the map board insert and way-markers at Cloghan Lake.
Announcing the national funding Minister Humphreys said: “We are now seeing an unprecedented level of investment in our outdoor amenities, underpinned by the most ambitious Government policy for Rural Ireland, ‘Our Rural Future’.
“The funding that I am announcing today will further develop and improve outdoor projects in rural communities across the country.
“We will carry out upgrades to our mountain trails and forest walks so that we can further unlock the beauty of our rural countryside.
“And under this fund, we will continue to develop our greenways, cycleways and blueways.
“COVID-19 has given us a newfound appreciation for our great outdoors.
“That’s why I’m delighted that we can support so many fantastic projects under this funding.”