Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We know the local improvement scheme was suspended and brought back in 2017 by the former Minister, Deputy Ring. We have spent €100 million on the LIS since then and I am aware of the absolute importance of the scheme. I have written to the Minister and I have raised this matter with him at every opportunity, saying that if we could just get a small contribution from his Department, it would help us along our road, excuse the pun.

On the Deputy's question about local authorities, I have been informed that approximately €30 million worth of LIS projects would be the maximum that could be carried out next year due to factors such as the availability of contractors. We expect significant demand on capital funding next year given the number of RRDF projects in construction and the delivery of the new community centres investment fund. I have a budget allocation of €12 million for next year, which I got increased a wee bit on last year by €1 million. Any surplus funds or underspending can go into that scheme. It is a very good scheme.

On the community centre investment fund, categories 2 and 3 have yet to be announced and I hope to do so in the coming weeks. It is a very popular scheme. I want to help communities because that is what we are about in this Department. We are helping communities with repairs and the new scheme next year will include new builds, which was something that was also raised with me.