Laytown at the mouth of the River Nanny.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphries TD, has announced today that €39,906 has been granted for exploratory work on a new Laytown Riverside Park Development adjacent to the mouth of the River Nanny and Laytown beach.

The money is part of a €15.5 million national scheme for 84 outdoor adventure projects to be funded under the Project Development stream of the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).

For the first time under the scheme, funding is also being provided to progress 18 outdoor recreational projects, including the Laytown Riverside Park, that are at an early stage of development.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure and has been in existence since 2016. 

To date ORIS funding has been awarded for 17 projects in County Louth to the value of almost €900,000 and 30 projects in County Meath to the value of more than €2.6 million.  A further €891,950 was announced today by Minister Humphries for projects in County Meath.

Fine Gael Councillor, Sharon Tolan  welcomed the news saying: “I am delighted with today’s announcement which will mean we can start to develop a plan to deliver a new park for Laytown. 

“This funding will be used to flesh out the finer detail and potential costings so that the next application for ORIS funding will be for construction costs. 

“We have such untapped potential all along our coastline here in Meath, and this park will add to the wonderful promenade delivered by Meath County Council in Laytown and the new footpath and cycleway that is under construction from Laytown bridge to Seafield” she said.