The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced €3.13 million in funding for 2026 under the department's strategic partnership with Coillte.

Of the total, €2 million will support ongoing maintenance and associated services at more than 200 recreational sites across the State, while €1.1 million is earmarked for new amenities and upgrades at 20 locations.

Announcing the funding, Minister Calleary said: "2026 marks the final year of my department's current 5-year strategic partnership with Coillte. Over the last 5 years, funding of over €16m has been provided to support and maintain Coillte's wonderful recreation forests and amenities around the country. This is in addition to investment in these sites through programmes such as the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

"As well as being used to maintain and develop Coillte's trail network and recreation amenities, this funding has also supported Coillte's engagement with local communities and recreation groups right across the country.

"These forests are great assets that visitors and local communities enjoy on a daily basis and they are a hugely important element of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland."

Detailing the 2026 allocation, the Minister said: "Our investment in 2026 includes €2m to facilitate ongoing maintenance and associated supports at over 200 recreational sites across the country. In addition, €1.1m is being provided to support the development of new recreation amenities and upgrades of existing facilities at 20 sites nationwide."

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Examples of projects to be funded include:

- Woodpark, Co Clare: Car park improvement works and the upgrade of 1.4 km of trail. €90,000.

- Curragh Chase Forest Park, Co Limerick: Renewal of Forest Park entrance road. €280,000.

- Belleek Woods, Co Mayo: First installation of play features as part of a new woodland play trail. €105,000.

- Sopwell, Co Tipperary: Renewal of bog bridge. €60,000.

- Monivea Forest, Co Galway: Car park improvement works and trail upgrade. €76,000.

- Dún an Rí Forest Park, Co Cavan: Modernisation of toilet facilities. €82,000.

The full list of sites receiving maintenance support and the locations for new works is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/coillte-funding-2022-2026/

The Minister continued: "We cannot overstate the positive impact recreation in the outdoors has on our physical and mental wellbeing. Our partnership with Coillte is one of the most important and I look forward to working with the organisation in the coming months to develop a new strategic partnership from 2027.

"Alongside strategic partnerships such as this, my Department is also providing direct investment through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS)."

Imelda Hurley, Coillte CEO, said: "We continue to see strong growth in visitor numbers year-on-year across our most popular recreation forests, demonstrating just how valued these amenity forests are by communities throughout Ireland. This €3.13 million investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG), is critical to ensuring we can continue to develop and enhance these important recreation sites nationwide, and in doing so support rural economic development, and provide high-quality, accessible spaces for people to enjoy.

"The DRCDG is a key, long-term strategic partner of Coillte and I'd like to thank Minister Dara Calleary and his officials at the Department for their ongoing support. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the DRCDG to develop the next strategic programme from 2027 onwards and to supporting even more people in enjoying the many benefits of our forests nationwide."