Around 446 walking trails are set to be improved with the funding.
The Government is set to provide almost €1 million in funding to 175 community groups across Ireland to assist in managing walking trails throughout the country.
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys announced the move on Wednesday (10 August).
Grants of between €1,000 and €3,000 are to be provided to the groups to improve their local trail and promote its use to visitors.
€1,000 is available for trails less than 5km, €2,800 for trails between 5km and under 20km and €3,000 for trails over 20km.
The 175 groups, known as Community Trail Management Organisations, are registered with Sport Ireland and will work in partnership with local authorities, Coillte, and the Local Development Company (LDC) in maintaining the trail.
Here is a breakdown of how much money each county will be receiving to maintain their trails:
- Carlow: €6,600
- Cavan: €1,000
- Clare: €40,000
- Cork: €248,900
- Donegal: €29,800
- Dublin: €1,000
- Galway: €79,200
- Kerry: €91,900
- Kilkenny: €17,000
- Laois: €18,200
- Leitrim: €14,600
- Limerick: €25,800
- Longford: €5,800
- Louth: €3,800
- Mayo: €70,200
- Offaly: €5,800
- Roscommon: €23,000
- Sligo: €2,000
- Tipperary: €77,300
- Waterford: €19,300
- Westmeath: €1,000
- Wexford: €122,400
- Wicklow: €46,400
The project is part of the “Our Rural Future” initiative, which also intends to spend €21.5 million on 27 regeneration projects in rural communities around the country.
“Our walkways, trails and greenways are an integral feature of Rural Ireland,” Humphreys said.
“They have been a godsend to us all, particularly during Covid-19, in terms of supporting our physical and mental wellbeing.
“This new initiative that I am announcing today is all about keeping these trails in top condition and supporting their use by both domestic and international visitors.
“So, it might be a case of using the grant to purchase a strimmer in order to maintain the local trail.
“Or a community group may decide to build a new website to promote their trail to a wider audience.”
You can read the full list of trails eligible for grants here.
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