€210,500 allocated under Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme to develop outdoor amenities in Fingal

Fingal County Council has secured funding totalling €210,500 for five projects under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme to enhance local amenities and create more opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. This announcement is part of a wider allocation of €8.7 million under the scheme by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD to deliver 221 recreational based projects nationwide. 

Among the approved projects are three new swim shelters in Donabate, Rush, and Skerries, designed to support the growing sea swimming community by providing safe, convenient spaces to change and store belongings.  Also included is a feasibility study for a greenway linking Balrothery village to Ardgillan Park and a feasibility study into the development of a ‘canal quarter’ on the Royal Canal for water-based activity. 

This study on the Royal Canal, done in collaboration with the Clonsilla-Porterstown Heritage Society, would explore the potential development of infrastructure to increase water-based activity on the Royal Canal including kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and rowing.

Speaking about the recent announcement, Mayor of Fingal Tom O’Leary said: “It is brilliant to see five new projects getting the green light under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. “I’m particularly delighted to see funding for 3 Outdoor Swimming Shelters at Skerries, Rush & Donabate. These kinds of investments make a real difference. They give people more places to walk, cycle, swim and enjoy the outdoors. It’s all about making our area even better to live in and visit, and I’m delighted to see it happening.”

Deputy Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Ethna Felton added: “I want to thank the community groups across Fingal and the Fingal Council officials who work so hard to develop and enhance recreational amenities in our local community. These amenities are for everyone to enjoy, and I encourage everyone to get out there and explore everything that Fingal has to offer”. 

Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary said: “Investment in the outdoors is so important to us all from a physical and mental health perspective. I am very happy to be making this announcement which will see over a wide range of capital projects developed and delivered all across the country, adding to our already impressive outdoor recreation offering.”

List of approved projects in Fingal

For a full list of approved projects, follow the link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme-funding-allocations/

For more on ORIS please click here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/press-releases/minister-calleary-announces-87-million-for-221-outdoor-recreation-projects/