Coillte welcomes €3 million in funding from Department of Rural and Community Development to further develop its forest parks, recreation areas and trails across Ireland

• Funding will help develop walking routes, loops, boardwalks and eco-trails
• Investment will boost local tourism across the country

15 August 2024: Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company, welcomes the announcement today of €3 million in funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development. The funding will support the development and enhancement of forest parks and recreation areas, walking trails and outdoor activities across rural Ireland. Coillte manages over 260 forest recreation areas and 12 forest parks throughout Ireland.  Many of these locations will benefit from the funding announced today.

Coillte welcomes 18 million individual visits to its forest parks and recreational facilities across the country each year. Coillte forests play an important role in encouraging people to explore the outdoors which supports the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals and communities nationwide.

Coillte’s forestry strategic vision is focused on optimising its contribution to Ireland’s climate targets, balancing and delivering multiple benefits from its forests, setting ambitious targets on biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the Irish forest and wood products industry.

The investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development announced by Minister Heather Humphries today, is part of a strategic partnership between the Department and Coillte, designed to boost rural and local economies.

Imelda Hurley, Coillte CEO said, ‘We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development and this important funding will enable us to further enhance the experience for visitors to our forest parks and recreational forests across the country.

‘As Ireland’s largest provider of outdoor recreation, we’re delighted that there are an estimated 18m visits to our recreational areas each year, with visitors from across Ireland and indeed, further afield.  Getting out in nature has proven positive benefits for everyone’s wellbeing and we look forward to further developing our recreational amenities for everyone to enjoy.”

Among the projects being supported under the €3 million initiative are:

• Belleek Wood Pond Rejuvenation Project in Belleek Forest, Co Mayo. This project involves repairs and improvements to the famous Belleek wood pond, removing excess sediment and organic material and improving the biodiversity and ecological health of the area. It will also see the introduction of floating islands, which will be a safe habitat for water birds to rest.

• Walking Trail Project in Dublin’s Slievethoul Woods. This project will support the continuous improvement of the trail network through the creation of an enhanced walking trail and solar powered access gates at Slievethoul Woods.

• Kilrush Recreation Forest in Co Clare. This project will include enhancements to visitor experience and accessibility, including walking trail surface improvements, enhanced water management controls and stream crossing infrastructure.

• Dromore New Recreation Trail in Co Kerry. The development of a new walking trail in Dromore Woods in partnership with the local community.

• Rossmore Forest Park in Co Monaghan. This project will see the installation of new accessible toilets in Rossmore Forest Park to enhance amenities for visitors to the location.

[ENDS]

About Coillte

Coillte is responsible for managing 440,000 hectares of primarily forested lands. It is the nation’s largest forester and producer of certified wood, a natural, renewable, and sustainable resource. Coillte is also the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Ireland, it enables wind-energy on the estate, manufactures panel-board wood products and undertakes nature rehabilitation projects of scale.