Cycle and walkway routes to get €140k rural funding injection

GREENWAYS and walking routes across County Wexford will benefit from a €140,342 injection of cash for upgrade and development works over the coming months.

The funding has been announced under the Outdoor Rural Infrastructure Scheme, which is providing €1.8m nationally. The first phase of the three-part funding scheme is for projects with a maximum value of around €20,000 and the money will be used for rural recreational projects with a view to boosting tourism across the county. Examples include the development of greenways, blueways and trails which will showcase the county’s natural beauty.

The schemes include an upgrade to the heritage trail at Our Lady’s Island (€20,000), an upgrade at Kilanerin and Curragh Woods Walks (€15,582), the installation of a wooden boardwalk and landscape at Burrow Trail, Kilmore Quay (€15,200). There will also be upgrades at Ramsfort Wood Trails near Gorey (€20,000), Slade Dock (€20,000), the New Ross River Walk to Oaklands Link (€20,000), as well as improvement works to the Oulart Hill Walking Trails (€20,000). The Wexford Walking Trails Network will also benefit to the tune of €9,560.

Minister Paul Kehoe said the funding supports small local projects. ‘This includes for the maintenance of existing projects which will provide a huge boost to local economies and a brilliant local amenity,’ he said. The scheme will primarily be run by local development companies, local authorities and state agencies, and funding will be provided to a maximum of 80 per cent of total project cost, with the balance to be provided from other sources.

Minister Kehoe said these sums will go a long way to improving the tourist potential across Wexford. ‘It’s extremely welcome that some of our most beautiful spots in the county are receiving the funding they deserve,’ he said. Measures two and three of the Scheme which focus on larger-scale projects costing between €20,000 and €500,000, will be announced later in year.