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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 53 together.

The local improvement scheme, LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Indeed, I have seen firsthand the important contribution that this scheme has made in rural communities right across the country.

The LIS was introduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. In recent years, I have sought to allocate additional funding to the scheme where possible, and I was happy to be in a position to do so again earlier this year. The scheme is administered at a local level by local authorities, and I am anxious to ensure that the allocations in each county are fully expended each year. With this in mind, I have asked my officials to maintain a close engagement with our delivery partners in the local authorities to ensure that the funding available under the range of schemes operated by my Department is drawn down and used in the most efficient and effective way possible. As part of this process, I am aware that the delivery of improvement works under the LIS is in many instances contracted out by local authorities.

Between 2017 and 2023, over €10.1 million was provided to Cork County Council, which has resulted in improvement works taking place on more than 200 roads, benefitting landowners and residents in these rural areas. For 2023 alone, Cork has been allocated more than €2.7 million in funding under the scheme to fund works on its approved list of 47 priority roads this year. The local authority has advised my officials that it is on track to complete works that have been approved under the 2023 scheme.

My Department maintains ongoing contact with local authorities in order to monitor demand and, importantly, the capacity to deliver under the LIS. The scheme criteria and the mechanism for funding allocation is reviewed accordingly each year. The issue of funding for the LIS has been raised on a number of occasions in this forum, and I continue to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, regarding his Department contributing to a jointly funded local improvement scheme. I will continue to work with our partners in local authorities to ensure that the LIS delivers projects that are of real benefit locally and that contribute to the Government's vision for rural Ireland as outlined in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025.

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