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Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has today (31 May 2023) announced an initiative to develop outdoor recreation activities on Irish Bogs.
The strategic partnership between the Minister’s department and Bord na Móna, with an initial allocation of €50,000, is designed to support towns and villages in the Midlands.
Minister Humphreys made the announcement during a visit to County Offaly today.
Announcing the new initiative, Minister Humphreys said:
“Through ‘Our Rural Future’ and the ‘Hidden Heartlands’ initiative, we are seeing more and more people choosing to visit our wonderful midlands counties – the likes of Offaly, Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, East Clare, Westmeath, Cavan, North Tipperary and Galway.
“This initiative, in conjunction with Bord na Móna, is about capitalising on the huge tourism potential that is very much on show in the Midlands.
“My department is already progressing an excellent strategy with Coillte in terms of developing our forest parks – places that are great locations for families and tourists alike to visit.
“And today we are taking the next step in relation to our boglands – turning them into ideal locations for recreational use.”
The Minister added:
“This is all about working with Bord na Móna to develop and manage high-quality, enjoyable and safe access to our great outdoors.
“It’s about opening up these hidden gems so that more people can reap the benefits.
"And so, I am delighted to announce funding of €50,000 for the development of a Recreation Strategy for Bord Na Móna.
“This strategy will provide real focus and build on the already successful recreation facilities that Bord na Móna operate.
“This is another one of a wide range of initiatives we are undertaking to develop our outdoor amenities and which is central to the recently published 'Embracing Ireland's Outdoors: National Outdoor Recreation Strategy'.”
Mr Ger Breen, Head of Land and Habitats, Bord na Móna added:
“Bord na Móna is delighted to have secured funding from the Department of Rural Community Development to develop an Outdoor Recreation Strategy.
“This funding represents a major milestone in realising the Bord na Móna vision of rehabilitated peatlands existing side by side with renewable energy assets and sensitively developed, biodiversity and natural spaces for public enjoyment.
“The development of recreational spaces within our estate will provide both health and wellbeing benefits for our local communities and support the growth of sustainable tourism within the Midlands, helping to regenerate the local economy.”
Bord na Móna has a longstanding government mandate to strengthen Ireland’s security of energy supply, and by doing so, help support the economic development of its area of operations. In line with the company’s climate solutions focus (renewable energy, recycling and rehabilitation), Bord na Móna has also broadened the scope of the socio-economic and other benefits that are supported by its pursuit of these key policy objectives. These benefits, which derive from the company’s sustainable business model, include but are not limited to rural development and employment, recreation and tourism and biodiversity.
Today’s announcement is a key strand to the implementation of Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 - 2027 which is set to strengthen and support the sustainable development of outdoor recreation over the next five years. There is a commitment under the Strategy to develop key partnerships with organisations such as Bord na Móna.
Funding of up to €50,000 will be made available to Bord na Móna towards the cost of developing a recreation strategy, which in time will lead to further recreational opportunities being developed on their lands.