€350,000 funding boost for Midlands trail network
The government has pledged €350,000 in funding over the next five years to maintain and support a network of trails on former Bord na Mona lands across the Midlands.
The funding, which was announced today (Monday) by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, and has been widely welcomed by local political representatives, is designed to boost tourism and enhance amenities for rural communities.
The creation of a Midlands Trail Network across Bord na Móna's former landbank is being undertaken as part of the EU's Just Transition Fund, and this latest round of funding for the project is part of a new five-year strategic partnership between the Department of Rural and Community Development and BnM (formerly known as Bord na Móna).
The five counties which will form part of the Midlands Trail Network are Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Tipperary, and the funding being provided as part of the strategic partnership will support and maintain the network over the next five years, and will also support a number of trails within the Lough Boora Discovery Park in Offaly.
Minister Calleary said the new trail network will “open up wonderful recreation opportunities” across the Midlands and added that the project is being made possible as a result of BnM's network of railways, bridges, bog road and off-road trails and waterways.
“New landscapes and habitats, previously inaccessible to recreational users, will be open to be explored for cyclists and walkers alike” said the Minister, who pointed out the importance of maintaining the trails to a high standard in view of the significant amount of EU and Exchequer funds being invested in their creation.
BnM CEO Tom Donnellan said the new amenities being created for communities across the Midlands will ontribute to the”on-going revitalisation of the Midlands, alongside BnM’s Eco Energy Park and Renewable Energy projects” and is part of the company's commitment to create “long-term social and environmental value” for communities in the Midlands in addition to safeguarding Ireland’s renewable energy supply.