Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
449. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to outline current funding for lakeside recreation projects such as slipways, walking routes, and greenway connections at Lough Ree, Lough Ennell and Lough Owel. [72651/25]
View answer450. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether additional funding will be made available to expand outdoor recreation infrastructure at lakes in Longford and Westmeath. [72652/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding under a number of 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.
This includes outdoor recreation faculties at lakes. I was pleased to announce successful projects under all measures of the ORIS 2024/2025 scheme earlier this year and I hope to announce the next iteration of ORIS early next year. Since 2020 some €3.7 million has been approved for41 projects across Longford. This includes €1.18 million which was allocated to 10 Longford projects this year. In Westmeath, since 2020, over €2.8 million has been allocated to 43 projects including funding of €412,560 for 6 projects in 2025. This includes projects in the vicinity of both Lough Owel and Lough Ree in previous years.
Budget 2026 includes an allocation of €17m for ORIS, and I would encourage the Deputy to explore the potential for lake-based ORIS projects with the local authorities and local development companies in Meath and Longford for onward submission to my Department.
