A suite of national outdoor recreation projects are set to be brought forward with new investment of €16 million.

Supported via the 2023 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), these works will involve the development of various natural environments, including mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, blue-ways, bogs, forest walks and uplands across Ireland.

Launching the 2023 scheme, Rural Minister Heather Humphreys said: "I'm delighted today to launch the 2023 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

"To date, the scheme has provided funding of over €106 million for more than 1,500 projects nationwide and today's announcement will build further on that.

"The facilities and amenities that we are delivering under this scheme make a real difference in communities right across rural Ireland.

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"They hugely benefit the health and well-being of people of all ages and are so important in terms of attracting visitors to our rural towns and villages."

Minister Humphreys added: "When I launched 'Embracing Ireland's Outdoors', I said I wanted to transform the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland. Today's announcement is putting that commitment into action.

"Earlier this year, I also announced an expansion of the Walks Scheme to 150 trails. And just this week, I launched a new partnership with Bord na Móna, designed to develop recreation activities on the country's bog-lands.

"The funding that I am announcing today really will deliver tremendous long-term assets for rural communities and is a clear demonstration of the huge impact that 'Our Rural Future' is having in every county in Ireland.

"And so, I would urge everyone to explore and experience the great outdoors and what our beautiful country has to offer."

Today's announcement is a key strand to the implementation of Embracing Ireland's Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 - 2027 which is set to shape the future of outdoor recreation over the next five years.

The Strategy aims to increase the number of people active in the outdoors, especially young people and under-represented groups, and to foster a greater understanding of how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.