A new scheme is to move diners around the country outside this summer.

The Outdoor Dining Scheme will see grants available for tourism and hospitality businesses .

There will also be funding for local authorities for permanent, long-term outdoor facilities.

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin and Fáilte Ireland have announced details of the €17m scheme.

It will be in two parts: part one will provide funding for individual tourism and hospitality businesses to develop and increase their own outdoor seating capacity.

Part two will allow local authorities to develop "permanent outdoor public dining spaces" in towns and urban centres, similar to those across other parts of Europe.

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin (centre) helps launch the €17m Outdoor Dining Scheme. Picture by: Fáilte Ireland

This will relate to weatherproofing and infrastructure, with each local authority able to apply for up to €200,000 for this part of the plan.

The scheme will open for applications on April 12th.

Minister Martin said: "This scheme has two main objectives: firstly, to enable individual tourism and hospitality businesses increase their dining and seating capacity in the short-term - and secondly to enable a long-term strategy for local authorities to develop appropriate permanent weatherproofed outdoor dining infrastructure.

"The aim is to support jobs and businesses and to transform appropriate outdoor spaces within our cities and towns as welcoming, vibrant places that will help support economic recovery."

Fáilte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly added: "We have been working closely with the County and City Management Association (CCMA) on behalf of the local authorities to design a scheme that will be efficient and practical.

"We look forward to seeing the results across the country."

Main image: People wear face masks while enjoying outdoor dining and coffees in Dublin City centre in October 2020. Picture by: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie