Over 30 Coillte forests and sites across Ireland have been boosted with a new investment of €1.2 million.

The Department for Rural and Community Development granted the additional funding to support outdoor tourism, bringing the total investment in outdoor recreation facilities at Coillte sites to €3.2 million this year.

Over 18 million individual visits are made to Coillte forests every year with the visitor numbers increasing by 40% during the pandemic, according to a report published by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD.

This new funding is designed to enhance the experience of visitors, support rural tourism and develop Ireland's unique forest amenities. The investment also supports the objectives of Our Rural Future, the Government's five-year strategy aimed at revitalising rural communities.

Some of the projects set to secure funding are Kildare's Donadea Forest Park for significant upgrades to the entrance and parking area, along with Devil's Glen in Wicklow which will see the replacement of three footbridges.

Minister Humphreys announced the funding during a visit to Rossmore Forest Park, Co Monaghan, which was the second most visited Forest in Ireland in 2020 after the Dublin Mountains.

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Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said: "For so many of us in rural Ireland, the Pandemic has taught us just how fortunate we are to have big open spaces on our doorsteps.

"From our fields, hills, mountains, rivers, lakes and forests – our unique outdoor amenities are amongst our greatest assets.

"Today's investment is a prime example of the positive impact 'Our Rural Future' is having in our rural communities.

"By investing in our wonderful forests and parks, we are making rural Ireland a destination for outdoor pursuits and adventure tourism, as well as supporting rural economies."

The Minister added: "Coillte is Ireland's largest landowner and also the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Ireland.

"The fact that it welcomes 18 million visitors to its sites each year demonstrates the important role it plays in facilitating both domestic and international tourists.

"Coillte is uniquely placed to provide access to world class tracks and trails through their extensive estates and I am delighted that my Department is providing funding to Coillte to develop these 33 vital amenities."

Daithi deForge, Head of Recreation at Coillte, commented: "Coillte is delighted to have the continued support of the Department of Rural and Community Development to maintain the recreation offering enjoyed by the public across the country.

"With an almost 40% increase in overall visitor numbers to our most popular recreational forests during Covid, access to the outdoors and Coillte's recreation facilities such as our forest parks, picnic areas, walking and cycling trails has never been more important.

"The support provided by the Department is vital to ensure that Coillte can continue to provide safe and enjoyable access for all the visitors to our forests.

"The increased number of visitors to our forests has led to increased pressure on facilities and with the Department's support we are now investing in new and upgraded facilities at many of our recreation forests."