Laois tourism to share in €68m Midlands bog money

Laois is to share in a €68 million tourism investment as one of eight counties losing its bog industry.

Fáilte Ireland has this Monday announced it will share €68million of EU ‘Just Transition’ funding to transform tourism in Ireland’s Midlands. 

The European Commission has agreed to adopt Ireland’s Territorial Just Transition Plan. €68m of the €169m allocated to the fund will be invested in transforming tourism in eight counties most affected by the end of Bord na Mona harvesting.

Fáilte Ireland says the €68m will create new jobs for communities in Laois, Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, Roscommon, Galway, Tipperary and Kildare.

The money will be given to four types of projects, trail development, visitor amenities, alternative low carbon accommodation, and smart specialisation, which they describe as "digital transformation". 

Fáilte Ireland say the fund "will transform tourism across 8 counties in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East through a regenerative tourism scheme". 

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is Catherine Martin, said the amount of money is a testament to Fáilte Ireland making a good case to the EU.

“I am confident that Fáilte Ireland, working in partnership with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and my own Department, will deliver effectively on this ambitious scheme of work, which will transform tourism in the Midlands.”  

“This new tourism policy will seek to support sustainable economic development in communities throughout the country, whilst protecting our environment and natural resources, and with a greater spread of demand across the year.

“The funding will enable the development of a network of trails linked to existing and emerging greenways; provide support to tourism businesses developing tourism infrastructure and experiences; repurpose buildings for small scale tourism developments and support the use of smart  technology and digitalisation to the benefit of visitors, businesses and the economy of the Midlands,” Minister Martin said.

CEO of Fáilte Ireland is Paul Kelly.

“It is an unprecedented investment in tourism, and one that is going to have a tangible economic impact in the towns and communities of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East. 

“Fáilte Ireland is looking forward to working collaboratively with local tourism businesses and communities, the East and Midlands Regional Authority (EMRA), Bord na Mona, Local Authorities, and our strategic partners including Waterways Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte to deliver this transformational project of scale."

The money is to help the midlands become a "carbon neutral destination" with sustainable tourism projects that are designed to have significant regenerative impacts on local communities and peatlands. 

The €68 million has been allocated to the National Tourism Development Authority to implement a Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands.

Minister of State, Offaly Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett welcomed the money.

“This investment falls into two areas: €30m for the Midlands Trails Network of walking, waterways and cycling connections along, amongst other things, former Bord na Mona rail track.  This is particularly exciting for Offaly and my thanks to Offaly County Council for their hard work on this.

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“The balance of today’s announcement, €38m focuses on low carbon infrastructure and experiences and smart solution development. I am really excited to see what communities and businesses of Laois and Offaly propose for their areas as they are best placed to develop tourism projects. I have already heard some very interesting ideas from people in both counties and now is the time to be progressing them.

“Our region was knocked down: Now is the time to look forward, bring the best of the past into the light and promote it for others to enjoy and experience also," Minister Hackett said.