Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys launches €15 million Fund to support Outdoor Adventure Activities

• Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) to provide major boost to rural tourism 
• €15 million fund to develop our mountains, lakes, beaches, bogs, forest walks, blueways, greenways (under 20k) and bridleways
• Focus on supporting adventure activities such as hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, swimming and cycling
• Funded in partnership with Fáilte Ireland

The scheme supports the provision of outdoor infrastructure that is, in the main, freely available to the public.

Deadlines to Galway County Council.

• 4pm on Friday 25^th March, 2022 for Measure 1 and Project Development Measure
• 4pm on Wednesday 27^th  April, 2022 for Measures 2 & 3

Measure 1: Small Scale Repair/Development/Promotion and Marketing

Grant Amounts: Up to €30,000. Deadline: 4pm on Friday 25^th March, 2022 for Measure 1 and Project Development Measure

Eligible Activities: Small scale projects. This includes, but is not limited to, the upkeep, repair and development of trails, walkways, cycleways, greenways, blueways recreational facilities at bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches, natural play areas that form part of a larger outdoor recreation project and the promotion and marketing of such infrastructure. Projects should, where possible, indicate how they are inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults.

Indicative Project Completion Date: All projects must be finished and drawdown of funding completed by 30th June 2023. The completion date may be revised in the Funding Agreement based on the date of project approval.

Maximum Number of Projects: 

A maximum of 7 applications may be submitted per Local Authority.

A maximum of 3 applications may be submitted per Local Development Company.

Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity Development – Ready to Go Projects

Grant Amounts: Up to €200,000 – Deadline 4pm on Wednesday 27^th  April, 2022 for Measures 2 & 3

Eligible Activity: Medium scale projects, This includes, but is not limited to, extensions/upgrades to already established trails, walkways, cycleways, greenways, blueways or other recreational facilities at bogs, rivers, lakes or beaches. Projects can also include works for the enhancement, repair or promotion of such infrastructure, or for improved access to recreational infrastructure or the development of new trails, walkways, cycleways, local greenways, blueways or other recreational facilities. Projects should, where possible, indicate how they are inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults.

Projects should indicate, where applicable, linkages with regional or national strategic initiatives, policies or plans e.g. Beara Breifne Way or Shannon Masterplan.

Eligible Applicants: Local Authorities.

Maximum Number of Projects: 3 applications may be submitted by each Local Authority.

Indicative Project Completion Date: All projects must be finished and drawdown of funding completed by 28th June 2024.

Measure 3: Strategic Large Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Strategic Trail/Amenity Development

Grant amounts: Up to €500,000.  Deadline: 4pm on Wednesday 27^th  April, 2022 for Measures 2 & 3

Eligible Activity: Strategic large scale projects . This could include projects such as the development of new larger-scale recreational infrastructure, or resources to complete larger scale/longer term developments, as well as significant repair and maintenance on already established trails, walkways, cycleways, greenways, blueways or recreational amenities at bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches. Projects should, where possible, indicate how they are inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults.

Projects should indicate, where applicable, linkages with regional or national strategic initiatives, policies or plans e.g. Beara Breifne Way or Shannon Masterplan.

Eligible Applicants: Local Authorities and State Bodies

Maximum Number of Projects: Local Authorities and State Bodies will be confined to 1 application each under this Measure.

Indicative Project Completion Date: All projects must be finished and drawdown of funding completed before 28th June 2024. The completion date may be revised in the Funding Agreement based on the date of project approval.

Project Development Measure: Development Costs for Strategic Large Scale Projects

Grant amounts: Up to €50,000. Deadline: 4pm on Friday 25^th March, 2022 for Measure 1 and Project Development Measure

Eligible Activity: Will provide funding for the detailed development of projects which would enable them to reach a standard for application under Measure 2 or 3 of ORIS. Such work might encompass detailed design, preparation for the planning and/or procurement, appropriate assessment etc.

Funding approved under this project development Measure is solely for the completion of the development and design stage of a project to enable it to reach readiness for a future application under Measure 2 or 3 of ORIS.

The overall aim for the investment under this Measure should be for the development of projects that are of a scale that may be funded under a future Measure 2 or Measure 3 application, or developed in two phases under such Measures i.e. projects with an expected delivery cost of less than €1 million (that are in line with the objectives and focus of this Scheme). The purchase of land is not eligible under this Measure.

The approval of an application under this Project Development Measure does not guarantee approval of funding for the subsequent delivery of the project. All project applications are subject to a competitive application process under future calls, regardless of any previous funding provided.

Eligible Applicants: Local Authorities and State Bodies.

Maximum Number of Projects: Local Authorities will be confined to two applications each under this Measure.

Indicative Project Completion Date: All projects must be finished and drawdown of funding completed before 30th June 2023. The completion date may be revised in the Funding Agreement based on the date of project approval.

Ineligible Project Types

The following types of projects and activities, in particular, will not be supported by the scheme:

• Greenways in excess of 20km.
• Purchase/lease of land.
• Legal fees.
• Standalone outdoor gym/calisthenics workout area projects.
• Sports grounds, traditional playgrounds and Multi-Use Gaming Areas (MUGAs).
• Works within Town Parks in towns and villages.
• Refurbishment and construction of buildings2 (except in very exceptional and limited circumstances for projects where this would substantially improve access to, and the utilisation of, recreational resources by the wider public).
• Walking or running tracks located in a confined space, e.g. around sports pitches or playgrounds, or within other sports grounds.
• Marked street trails, walkways and cycleways within towns and villages.
• Maintenance works on elements of trails which form a normal part of the work undertaken as part of the Walks Scheme.
• Activities which do not comply with the definition of countryside/outdoor recreation as set out above and as defined in the National Countryside Recreation Strategy3.
• Capacity building or training.
• Ongoing operational costs.

Blueways

• Applicants seeking funding for existing Blueways or projects which intend on using the “Blueway” brand should note the following:
• A Blueway is defined as; a network of approved and branded multi-activity recreational trails and sites, based on and closely linked to the water together with providers facilitating access to activities and experiences. Examples could include; kayaking, SUP or walking/ cycling adjacent to water. For further information please refer to www.bluewaydevelopment.org
• Applicants applying with the intention of creating a new Blueway must engage in the Blueway accreditation process and should also include Letter of supports from both Blueway Accreditation Inspector and at least 2 activity providers operating in the destination.

Greenways

• Greenway projects funded under ORIS must be of a local nature and not exceed 20km (all phases). Where a project application relates to a phase of a greenway, and the overall planned greenway exceeds 20km, this project should not be applied for under ORIS as funding is available under Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Examples of activities) include: (supports the provision of outdoor infrastructure that is, in the main, freely available to the public).

Inclusion

The infrastructure funded under ORIS should be as accessible as possible for people with disabilities and older people. Cara have developed an extensive range of guidance for the development of outdoor recreation infrastructure e.g. trails, greenways waterways, beaches. Applicants should refer to these resources when they are developing their applications.

Non-Compliance with the conditions as outlined or any additional stipulations agreed during contract negotiations may result in a sanction being imposed or the requirement to refund part or all of the grant aid awarded. All expenditure registered through the Department’s Rural Schemes i.e.    Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) will be subject to the terms of the Public Spending Code which can be found at http://publicspendingcode.per.gov.ie/.

Applicants/Groups are encouraged to review projects funded in previous years to get an understanding of the diverse types of projects eligible. Lists of projects funded previously are available athttps://www.gov.ie/en/service/d14e1-outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme/

Applications under the Scheme must demonstrate a collaborative approach, working with the local community and stakeholders.

Grant Level

Up to 90% of the total cost of a project under the Scheme will be provided for any individual project. The remaining 10% match funding must be contributed by the successful applicant and/or the community group and/or philanthropic contributions.

Assessment Criteria – take note of assessment criteria above.

Selection of projects under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for 2021 will be by means of a competitive process. In approving applications and selecting the successful projects, a number of factors will be considered by the Department, including the information supplied in the Application Overview and Application Form; the range, mix, quality and impact of proposed projects; previous funding provided; inclusion of different population groups including people with disabilities and older adults; and other relevant considerations.

Application Forms and Queries, please submit to [email protected] – Bernie Donnellan 091 509578.  (Application Forms and Irish Documentation to follow).

Advisable to Liaise with Municipal Area Engineer, Rural Recreation Officer, and (Water Safety Officer, for projects/trails located near lakes/rivers etc.,)

Application Forms and Guidelines:

ORIS M1 Application Form

ORIS M2 M3 Application Form

ORIS Project Development Application Form

Scheme Outline ORIS 2022

Section 5 – Application for Declaration of Exempted Development – Planning Act 2000