·         Mr. Paddy Matthews  - Fáilte Ireland - Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

The Cathaoirleach welcomed Mr. Paddy Matthews from Failte Ireland – the Hidden Heartlands to give a presentation to the Elected Members on the Regenerative Tourism Scheme funded by the EU Just Transition Fund.

Mr. Matthews outlined the strategy and process for securing funding for tourism initiatives from the fund for the Hidden Heartlands region:

·         In response to an invitation from DECC, a funding scheme proposal was made in March 2022 – “A regenerative Tourism and Place Making Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands” to form part of Irelands EU Just Transition Plan.

·         Government approval of Irelands EU Just Transition Plan in the sum of €169m included €68m for tourism.

·         The key challenges and response include:

o   Impact on jobs and communities, direct and indirect as the peat industry is wound down

o   Key task for JTF is to provide new employment opportunities.

o   The JTF can help to create inclusive, attractive, healthy and sustainable place to live, work and visit.

·         Priority 1 – generating employment for former peat communities by investing in the diversification of local economy by:

o   Supporting productive investments in microenterprises SMEs and economic stakeholders in key sectors

o   Support bottom-up local and regional economic strategies

o   Support research and development and innovation activities to contribute to development of the green and circular economy.

o   €87m allocated to economic diversification, LECT/REP schemes and Biodiversity actions

o   Delivery partners – Fáilte Ireland, Pobal and Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Marine

o   Key Indicators: 427 Enterprises, 5 LECP/REPs, 16 enterprises

·         Priority 2 – supporting regeneration and repurposing of peatlands and related lands by:

o   Supporting a set of actions for the lands that will no longer be used for the extraction, transport and processing of peat and will complement the activities in Priority 1

o   €57m allocated to peatland restoration, farming wet peat soil and network of trails

o   Partners - National Parks & Wildlife, Dept of Agriculture and Fáilte Ireland

o   Key Indicators: 2,500 Ha rehabilitated peatland, 10,000 Ha restored, ecosystems, 30 Ha trails

·         Priority 3 – providing former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to benefit directly from the green transition by

o   Focusing on decarbonisation of transport to provide clean transport solutions

o   This is essential to ensure the population can access jobs and training to participate in the activities proposed.

o   €18m allocated to electric buses, support to transport and charge points.

o   Partners – NTA, ZEVI

o   Key Indicators – 27.5 tonnes Co2 gone, 12 enterprises, 60 recharging points

Regenerative Scheme 2023-2027 Strands:

Strand 1 – Trail Development on old railways through rehabilitated wetlands

o   Deliver a strategic Network of connected walking, cycling and water trails

o   Emphasis on cycling, e-biking, walking and boating

o   Hubs – Entry and exit points to network, car parks, accommodation, catering, accommodation

o   Stand Out trail features

Strand 2 - Support for SME and Amenity Development

o   Grant schemes for tourism SME’s – state aid rules will apply

o   Expansion of existing enterprises & establishing new ones

o   Launch target date July 2023

Strand 3 – Low Carbon alternative accommodation

o   Small scale accommodation developments

o   Trails network

o   Carbon neutral developments

o   Capacity building

Strand 4 -  Smart Solutions/digitisations programme for tourism sector

o   Supporting entrepreneurship, skills development and capacity building

o   Appointment of Tourism activators

o   DT Programme and digital innovation in tourism

Next steps include consultation with communities, local authorities and tourism SME’s; work up details of schemes and appoint tourism activators The launch of funding schemes is expected to be July/August 2023

The Cathaoirleach thanked Mr. Matthews for the in-depth presentation on behalf of the members the members had a number of questions and comments on the initiative:

·         What is the situation with Bord na Mona and disused railway lines?

·         The council have been very progressive with communities and a number of projects identified but raising matching funding is an issue e.g. the board walk project in Ballyleague. Government need to heed the message that matched funding will have to be re-examined.

·         Tourism activators are like rural activation officers and it’s important to make what we have work

·         There are so many places that can be opened up including the area from Ballyleague to Rooskey (Kilglass lakes)

·         Welcome Just Transition and Bord Failte collaborating for this project

·         Where will the tourism activators be based?

·         Can assistance be provided to finalise an accommodation project?

·         Can the presentation be circulated to the elected members after the meeting?

·         The Ballyforan – Shannonbridge area should also be included.

·         West Roscommon is not included. There should also be provision for extension of trails from Rooskey to Rathcroghan to Ballaghaderreen

·         East Roscommon/Longford area seems to be prioritised

·         Will the cycle route Dublin to Galway be integrated into this scheme?

·         Derryglad Folk museum in South Roscommon would be a great attraction and its accessibility to the Dublin Galway greenway/cycleway should be considered

·         There are many valuable sites in Roscommon – Roscommon County Council should complete an audit of these sites.

·         The MD’s of Roscommon, Athlone and Ballinasloe have met to generate ideas for projects

·         Welcome progress on Just transition – we have a unique area with bogs and it is good to see funding being considered through JT. Co Funding is important but the thousands of hours given by volunteers should translate into part of the matched funding.

·         Where trails are proposed through private farmland, early consultation is essential and trails should where possible be off road.

·         Is there funding available for towns and villages where there is a deficiency of facilities?

·         Where trails are developed, with Fáilte Ireland fund the maintenance?

·         The N5 could facilitate the Roscommon Sligo Greenway – also a concern there is no visitor accommodation in Tulsk

Mr. Matthews Thanked the members for their feedback and responded to a number of the queries raised:

·         There are ongoing discussions with Bord na Mona to identify the lands available and not every rail line will be required. It is envisaged that 70 to 80km of trails will be developed under the scheme.

·         Matched funding is constrained by state aid rules – threshold of €200k

·         The consultations will take place shortly – Roscommon town on 8^th or 15^th May

·         It is not yet decided where the activators will be positioned – probably in the Local Authorities

·         Part of the fund will provide expertise where required

·         Trails must be situated on peatlands under this fund – i.e. regeneration of peatlands

·         All of County Roscommon is eligible for projects funded under Strand 2

·         Funding is only available until 2026. Maintenance is something to be discussed in future with BnaM and LAs although the trails should be low maintenance.

The Chief Executive thanked Mr. Matthews for the detailed and informative presentation and there has been great collaboration with the Council and his office in recent years with other projects. There are nine counties involved in this area and we need to manage our expectations while also putting our best foot forward.