Meath Partnership

Meath Partnership, on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and Fáilte Ireland, is now inviting Expressions of Interest for Measure 1 of the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme 2022. An Expression of Interest Form and further outline of the Scheme are available for download below.

This scheme is now closed.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD has, as of the 18th February 2022, launched a major €15 million fund that will support dozens of outdoor adventure projects across the country. The 2022 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) will see the development of natural amenities such as our mountains, lakes, beaches, bogs, walkways, greenways and blueways.

The Scheme will place a particular focus on developing adventure tourism in Rural Ireland and will support activities such as hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, swimming and cycling, which were especially popular among families throughout the Covid 19 Pandemic.

The projects that will be supported under ORIS are designed to benefit the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they are located. ORIS provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas. It funds trails, cycleways, blueways, bridleways, as well as outdoor amenities located near rivers, lakes and beaches.

The 2022 scheme will provide investment ranging from €30,000 for small scale projects and up to €500,000 for large scale projects. This is an alteration on last year’s scheme, which provided funding ranging from €20,000 instead of €30,000.

The Scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and projects applications will be accepted under the following Measures: 

• Measure 1 - for small scale projects, funding of 90% up to €30,000
• Measure 2 - for medium scale projects, funding of 90% up to €200,000
• Measure 3 - for large scale projects, funding of 90% up to €500,000
• Project Development Measure - funding of 90% up to €50,000 for development costs for strategic large scale projects

Examples of activities which applicants should have in mind when submitting applications for the 2022 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) include:

For further information, queries or assistance in completing your Expression of Interest, please contact 046-9280790 or email info@meathpartnership.ie.

For further information on Measures 2 & 3 of the scheme, please visit the Meath County Council website.