The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (15 August 2024) announced funding of €3 million to develop and upgrade visitor and recreational amenities at Coillte Forest Parks across Ireland.
The investment is part of a strategic partnership between the Department of Rural and Community Development and Coillte to maintain and manage existing trails in Coillte forests, and to develop new recreation opportunities.
The funding will be used to deliver a range of projects such as new walking trails, carpark improvements, installation of footbridges and new toilet facilities.
Examples of some of the projects being funded today include:
- Deerpark, Co Cavan, Design & construction of new car park entrance to Forest – €200,000
- Belleek, Co Mayo: Belleek Wood Pond Rejuvenation Project. – €150,000
- Kilrush Recreation Forest Park, Co. Clare: Trail surface improvements works – €75,000
- Castlegrove, Co Galway: Trail enhancement works – €115,000
- Tibradden, Co Dublin: Carpark Improvement Works – Phase 1 – €80,000
- Donadea Forest Park, Co Kildare: Phase 1 of New Trail – €50,000
- Curragh Chase Forest Park, Co Limerick: Road & Cark Park Resurfacing – €40,000
- Slieve Foye, Co Louth: Recreation infrastructure improvement works – €60,000
- Rossmore Forest Park, Co Monaghan: Installation of new toilets – €49,000
Full details of the €3m funding being allocated to projects for 2024 are available here.
Minister Humphreys also today launched the report of the 2023 programme of investment which sets out the projects and outcomes from the investment provided to Coillte in 2023. This report can be found here.