Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2025
380. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when local authorities will be notified of the reasons projects were unsuccessful for this year’s outdoor recreation funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70584/25]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding under several measures for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the necessary repair, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland.
Applications submitted under ORIS are subject to a competitive assessment process conducted by my officials. Last month I was delighted to announce funding of over €16 million for successful projects under measures 2 and 3 of the 2024/2025 fund. This is in addition to funding of €8.7m I announced in August under the other scheme measures.
While this is the highest amount of funding approved under the scheme since it was established in 2016, not all applications were successful in being funded. My officials are available to discuss any unsuccessful project applications with the local authorities and local development companies who manage the scheme locally, and I would encourage any such applicants to contact the ORIS section in my Department in this regard. My officials are in ongoing contact with delivery partners in any case, and also host information sessions for applicants when a new round of the scheme is open. These information sessions have proved a useful forum to discuss scheme requirements and the application process directly with local authority and local development company staff who are engaged in the operational management of ORIS applications.`
