 
                                    It's part of a national €1 million fund.
€25,000 has been granted to develop walking trails in the midlands.
It's part of a national €1 million fund, which falls under 'Our Rural Future.'
Laois is the largest beneficiary in the region, with €18,200.
Offaly has been granted €5,800, and Westmeath will receive €1,000.
The funding can be used towards the cost of purchasing equipment, small scale maintenance and promotion of the trail.
Announcing the funding, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, says:
“Our walkways, trails and greenways are an integral feature of Rural Ireland.
They have been a godsend to us all, particularly during COVID-19, in terms of supporting our physical and mental wellbeing.
This new initiative that I am announcing today is all about keeping these trails in top condition and supporting their use by both domestic and international visitors.
So, it might be a case of using the grant to purchase a strimmer in order to maintain the local trail.
Or a community group may decide to build a new website to promote their trail to a wider audience.
The grants that I am announcing today range from €1,000 to €3,000 and are being provided to 175 community groups that are tasked with managing the trails in partnership with their local authority, Coillte and Local Development Company.”
 
                             
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