South West Mayo Development Company CLG will administer the 2024/2025 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development. ORIS is funded under Project Ireland 2040 and is a key initiative of Our Rural Future – Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 and Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027.
In line with Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, outdoor recreation is defined as activities that take place in the natural environment, such as walking, canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering and wild swimming. It does not include activities that take place outdoors on confined courses or pitches (such as golf, football, and showjumping) or motorised activities (such as quads/scramblers). Therefore, such activities are not eligible for funding under ORIS.
The focus of ORIS is to support outdoor recreational infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland that not only provides an outlet for the communities in which they are situated but also delivers added value from a tourism perspective.
2024/2025 ORIS Scheme Measures
Measure | Description | Grant Amount |
Measure 1 | Small Scale Repair/Development/ Promotion and Marketing | Up to €40,000 |
Measure 2 | Medium Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity Development | Up to €200,000 |
Project Development | Project Development Measure: Development Costs for Strategic Large Scale Projects | Up to €50,000 |
Match Funding Requirement: Trail Management Organisations/Community Groups must provide 10% of their overall project costs as match funding.
South West Mayo Development Company CLG now seeks expressions of interest from Trail Management Organisations (TMOs)/community groups for funding of suitable projects under this initiative.
If you are interested in this funding, please contact Martin Dillane, Rural Recreation Officer at mdillane@southmayo.com or 087 657 8147 for an Expression of Interest form.
All those submitting an Expression of Interest form should read the ORIS 2024-2025 Scheme Outline.
Completed expression of interest forms must be emailed to ruralrecreation@southmayo.com before the following deadlines;
Measure 1 – 5.00 pm Friday, 17th January, 2025
Measure 2 – 5.00 pm Friday 31st January, 2025
Project Development – 5.00 pm Friday, 17th January, 2025
IMPORTANT: Expressions of interest received after this date and time will not be considered for the ORIS 2024/2025 scheme. All applications will be subject to a selection process using national criteria.
