Funding for the upgrade of the Waterford Greenway.
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh today welcomes the announcement of €370,000 for the upgrade and enhancement of Clonea Road to Ballinacourty Spur of the Waterford Greenway. Waterford Greenway is one of 14 large-scale projects throughout the country receiving €6m funding under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The investment is co-funded by Minister Catherine Martin through Fáilte Ireland and involves a significant development of many of our most popular outdoor amenities such as trails, walkways, cycleways, and blueways.
Speaking after the announcement, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said: Waterford Greenway has been a huge success for Waterford and the South East in general and I welcome today’s funding announcement. The Greenway is a wonderful outdoor amenity which has been used and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike and has become a significant tourist attraction for visitors from Ireland and overseas. As part of the growing Greenway network, it plays a key role in our sustainable tourism offering here in the county. This extension will have a significant impact on the area and will enhance the entire Greenway and make it an even more attractive amenity to visit.
During COVID times, more and more people are appreciating the great outdoors and many are planning holidays at home for 2021. Waterford Greenway will continue to be a key sustainable tourism destination and today’s announcement will further unlock the tourism potential of the area to the benefit of locals and visitors alike.
The funding announced today will be spent on upgrading the existing walk way/cycle way between Clonea Road and Ballinacourty to Greenway standard, providing shared walking and cycling links to Ballinclamper and Ballinacourty car parks at Clonea Strand.
Green Party representative for Dungarvan, Críostóir Ó Faoláin said: “The Waterford Greenway is one of the best in the country and I am happy to see continued commitment to its success. The upgrade to this spur from the Greenway is very welcome, the existing walking trail is narrow and sometimes impassable due to excess water. Locals have reached out to me to ask that it be upgraded and I am delighted that funding has been approved for this work to be carried out.”
More Information
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding under three separate Measures to support outdoor recreation:
- Measure 1: Small Scale Repair/Promotion and Marketing (up to €20,000 grant available)
- Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity development (up to €200,000 grant available)
- Measure 3: Large Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Strategic Trail/Amenity Development (up to €500,000 grant available).
All three measures under ORIS are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with Fáilte Ireland.
Under the current round of the programme, which was launched in 2020, the Department of Rural and Community Development provides funding of up to 90% of the total approved project costs, with the additional 10% to be provided from other sources.
Measure 1 was announced in January 2021. Measure 2 projects were announced in early March.
It is envisaged that calls for proposals under the 2021 Scheme will be launched shortly.
