Funding has became available for the development of outdoor infrastructure in Kilkenny.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) aims to upgrade natural amenities including woodlands, mountains, rivers, lakes, beaches, bogs and walkways, and will place a particular focus on developing amenities for adventure tourism in rural Ireland.

Outdoor activities eligible for consideration under the scheme, include (but are not exclusive to):

• Land-based: Walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, running, orienteering, bouldering, rock climbing, mountaineering, caving, play in nature.

• Water-based: Canoeing, kayaking, rowing, wild swimming, surfing, coasteering, wind surfing, kite surfing, sailing, diving, angling, stand up paddleboarding.

• Air-based: Paragliding, hang-gliding.

It does not include activities that take place outdoors on confined courses or pitches such as Gaelic Games, golf, soccer and show-jumping or motorised activities such as quads and scramblers. As a consequence such activities are not eligible for funding under ORIS.

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It is a requirement that the infrastructure funded under ORIS should be available free of charge to the public.

Kilkenny County Council is seeking Expressions of Interest for projects under all measures:

• Measure 1: Small Scale Repair/Development/Promotion and Marketing – grant up to €40,000

• Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity Development – grant up to €200,000

• Measure 3: Strategic Large-Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Strategic Trail/Amenity Development projects – grant up to €500,000

• Project Development Measures: Will provide funding for the detailed development of projects which would enable them to reach a standard for application under Measure 2 or 3 of ORIS – grant up to €50,000

Projects should be located mainly in the countryside and not in the environs of a town or village unless the proposed project is linking a town or village into the countryside.

Potential applicants should email the Capital Delivery Office & Parks Department of Kilkenny County Council, providing details of any potential project, within the county, that meets the prescribed criteria for eligibility under the scheme wished to be considered. Once submissions are reviewed contact will be made to advise on the outcome of this assessment process. 

All expressions of interest must be submitted in WORD format to [email protected] by 4pm. on Friday, January 17.