Nine projects in Laois will receive funding under the Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme.
€160,000 has been allocated to Laois to develop walking trails, cycle ways, parks and river walks.
Dysart in Portlaoise, Killeshin, Slieve Bloom, Borris-In-Ossory, Rathdowney, Abbeyleix and a section of the River Barrow near Portarlington are to benefit – while two countrywide projects involving signage and mapboard installation will also take place here.
€16,695 is going to Phase 2 of the Corrigmeal Woodland Trail for upgrade of trail and enhancement at Dysart, Portlaoise.
Killeshin Reservoir Trail Extension in Killeshin village is to receive €19,800.
While €11,800 will be spent on maintenance and enhancement works at Slieve Bloom Way & Ancillary Loops.
€19,634 is going to the Borris-in-Ossory Walking Trail for an upgrade of existing trail.
Rathdowney is to see €17,910 spent on signage and promotion at the Conoboro Walking Trail.
€18,000 has been allocated for repair/replacement of trail bog bridge and resurfacing of the trails at Abbeyleix Bog.
While €19,980 is going to upgrade the existing trail at the River Walk to Lea Castle near the River Barrow in Portarlington.
Meanwhile, the Laois Tourism and Recreation Signage Upgrade Programme will receive €20,000 to upgrade and replace signage around the county.
And €17,206 for mapboard installation at Outdoor Recreation facilities for countywide trail promotion throughout Laois has also been allocated.
Sean Fleming, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, welcomed the news as he says the Covid-19 pandemic has shown how valuable natural resources are to the county.
He said: “Due to COVID19 there has been a major increase in people using our outdoor walking trails and other facilities.
“Using these outdoor amenities helps people keep healthy and physically fit and is also a benefit for people’s general wellbeing and mental health.
This funding will have significant benefits for many people and all of these projects listed below are to be delivered and in place during this year.
“I encourage everyone to use the many existing outdoor recreation facilities right across the county.”
Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan said the scheme provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas and is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with Fáilte Ireland.
The funding announced this morning, under Measure 1 of the Scheme, will support small-scale local projects with funding of up to €20,000 each.
Speaking this morning, Deputy Flanagan stated: “The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme has been crucial to the development of the recreation facilities enjoyed by growing numbers of locals and tourists in rural areas in recent years.
“These facilities are now more important than ever in light of the COVID–19 emergency and I am delighted that the following nine projects in County Laois have been successful.
“The COVID situation has given people a renewed appreciation of the benefit of the outdoors to their wellbeing.
“Thankfully we have a wealth of natural beauty here in Laois as well as many excellent tracks and trails, thanks in no small part to the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.”
While Green Party Minister for State Pippa Hackett said she was particularly delighted to see Abbeyleix Bog feature.
She said: “Outdoor recreation is vitally important to us during Covid and has the potential to improve our tourism economy in the long run.
“I’m delighted to see Laois included in this phase of the funding, in particular the upkeep of Abbeyleix Bog Walks, which adds to our appreciation of the bog and the need to preserve it to reduce our carbon emissions.”
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