Minister Heather Humphreys announcing national outdoor recreation funding of €6 million. PHOTO: Rory Geary

Good tidings for Cork beach

A popular Cork beach will undergo major development as part of a €6 million Government funding rollout for outdoor amenities across Ireland.

Fountainstown Beach will receive €30,000 which will go towards improving access to water sports, as well as significant landscaping works.

The funding of €6 million, which will be used to develop 200 amenities nationwide, was announced last week by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.

The investment, under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), will be key to enhancing outdoor amenities such as our walkways, cycleways, rivers, lakes and beaches in rural Ireland.

It also aims to provide a major boost to local economies by attracting visitors and furthering Ireland’s reputation as a destination for adventure tourism.

Over €4 million of the funding will be used to improve existing outdoor amenities across the country.

Funding will also be invested in 37 outdoor projects that are currently at the early stage of development. These projects are to receive funding of up to €50,000.

Funding for larger scale projects under Measures 2 and 3 of the scheme will be announced by Minister Humphreys in the coming weeks.

Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said every county will benefit from the funding and encouraged the public to check the list of amenities to see what’s happening in their area.

She said: “We’re at the height of the summer and whatever the weather I know families are getting out and enjoying Ireland’s great outdoors.

“Getting active in the fresh air outdoors can be a tonic for the body and soul and this was brought home to us all during the pandemic.

“Some of these amenities are often hidden gems on our doorsteps so I’m encouraging people to get out and discover them over the rest of the summer.”

Minister Humphreys continued: “Outdoor recreation tourism is a growing sector internationally and has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages.

“My department is at an advanced stage of developing the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy which will underpin this investment and give it a platform for further growth.”