The Department of Rural & Community Development has announced the 2024/2025 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), administered by Monaghan County Council. This scheme supports the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and the necessary repair, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland. The Scheme is funded under “Our Rural Future” which specifically prioritises the growing outdoor activity tourism sector as part of a long-term vision for a vibrant and sustainable rural Ireland.
In line with Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, outdoor recreation is defined as activities that take place in the natural environment, such as walking, canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering and wild swimming. It does not include activities that take place outdoors on confined courses or pitches (such as golf, football, and show-jumping) or motorised activities (such as quads/scramblers). Therefore, such activities are not eligible for funding under ORIS.
The focus of ORIS is to support outdoor recreational infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland that not only provides an outlet for the communities in which they are situated but also delivers added value from a tourism perspective. Projects typically funded by ORIS include walkways, cycleways, blueways, water and cycle trails, mountain access routes, bridleways, and open water amenities at bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches, including tidal pools.
Monaghan County Council is seeking Expressions of Interest for projects under all measures
| Measure | Description | Grant Amount |
| 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 Measure | 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 |
Where a project requires planning permission, this must be in place in advance of an application being submitted.
All applicants submitting an Expression of Interest should familiarise themselves with the eligibility criteria. The scheme details and relevant application forms are available on our website at https://monaghan.ie/communitydevelopment/grants-funding-schemes/
Please contact Aisling Kierans, Community Development Section at akierans@monaghancoco.ie or on 047 73707 to discuss potential projects for submission to this scheme as early as possible.
Closing dates for submission of EOI’s to Monaghan County Council
| Measure 1 | 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 17th December 2024 |
| Measure 2 | 4.00 p.m. on Friday 31st January 2025 |
| Measure 3 | 4.00 p.m. on Friday 31st January 2025 |
| Project Development Measure | 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 17th December 2024 |
All expressions of interest must be submitted in WORD Format to oris@monaghancoco.ie by the respective closing dates. All applications will be subject to a competitive selection process.
Expressions of Interest received after this date and time will not be considered for the 2024/2025 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
