Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced a major €16 million fund to support outdoor recreation projects.
The 2023 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) will see the development of natural amenities such as our mountains, lakes, beaches, bogs, walkways, greenways and blueways and will place a particular focus on developing amenities for adventure tourism in rural Ireland.
The funding is aimed at supporting outdoor recreation tourism, a growing tourism sector internationally, which has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages as well as improving the health and well-being of rural communities.
The Community Section of Louth County Council is now seeking Expressions of Interest for projects under all measures.
Please note that the deadline dates for submission of Expressions of Interest to the Community Section of Louth County Council are different for each measure – all the details are provided below.
In addition, please note that the deadline dates for submission of Expressions of Interest to the Community Section of Louth County Council are different to the application deadline dates indicated by the Department of Rural and Community Development on Page 22 of the Scheme Outline. The reason for this is the Expressions of Interest must be reviewed by Louth County Council before submission to the Department of Rural and Community Development for further consideration.
Scheme Outline for ALL Measures
Please ensure that you read the Scheme Outline fully before submitting an Expression of Interest Application Form. Please click here for the Scheme Outline.
Expression of Interest Application Forms and Submission Dates
Measure 1: Small Scale Repair / Development / Promotion and Marketing - grant amount up to €30,000.
Expressions of Interest applications for Measure 1, which will be subject to shortlisting, must be submitted in Microsoft Word format by email to community@louthcoco.ie no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 8th August 2023.
Measure 1 Expression of Interest Application Form
Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair / Upgrade and New Trail / Amenity Development – grant amount up to €200,000.
Expressions of Interest applications for Measure 2, which will be subject to shortlisting, must be submitted in Microsoft Word format by email to community@louthcoco.ie no later than 5 pm on Friday, 29th September 2023.
Measure 2 Expression of Interest Application Form
Measure 3: Strategic Large Scale Repair / Upgrade and new Strategic Trail / Amenity Development - grant amount up to €500,000.
Expressions of Interest applications for Measure 3, which will be subject to shortlisting, must be submitted in Microsoft Word format by email to community@louthcoco.ie no later than 5 pm on Friday, 29th September 2023.
Measure 3 Expression of Interest Application Form
Project Development Measure: Funding for the detailed development of projects which would enable them to reach a standard for application under Measure 2 or 3 of ORIS – grant amount up to €50,000.
Expressions of Interest applications for the Project Development Measure , which will be subject to shortlisting, must be submitted in Microsoft Word format by email to community@louthcoco.ie no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 11th July 2023.
Project Development Measure Expression of Interest Application Form
Key Points to Note
- All Expressions of Interest must be submitted in Microsoft Word Format.
- The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest Applications to the Community Section of Louth County Council is as follows:
Project Development Measure Tuesday, 11th July 2023
Measure 1 Tuesday, 8th August 2023
Measure 2 Friday, 29th September 2023
Measure 3 Friday, 29th September 2023
- Shortlisted projects will be submitted by Louth County Council to the Department of Community and Rural Development for its consideration.
- If you have any queries in relation to the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2023, please email community@louthcoco.ie
13th June 2023
