Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful this Topical Issue matter was selected. I thank the Minister of State for being present to take it.

The matter relates to local improvement scheme, LIS, roads around the country. We know there are thousands of them all over Ireland that are awaiting funding. These are non-council roads and laneways that require improvement works. There are hundreds of them in my constituency in County Kerry. The Minister of State will be familiar with hundreds more in the Laois-Offaly constituency. They are all over the country. These are roads that communities cannot improve themselves because of the cost. The contribution from the State, through the LIS, via the local authorities, is very important in meeting the contribution of local residents to get the roads done. When the last 1 km or 2 km up to a house is almost impassable, it makes a significant difference to the quality of life of residents when it is surfaced to a proper standard. It is not just for people who drive but also for people who cycle, walk, use wheelchairs, push prams and buggies and in all sorts of different circumstances. Sometimes that is forgotten, as we often just think about roads in the context of motorised vehicles when they are about much more than that.

I welcome the progress in recent years, in particular since 2016, when the process was kick-started by my colleague, the then Minister, Deputy Ring. At the time, the existing list was eaten into and serious progress was made to clear it. Local authorities made a new call a couple of years ago and there is a significant list again for which more funding is needed. Last year, €10.5 million was provided initially by the State for local improvement schemes throughout the country. The money was distributed to local authorities. My understanding is the allocation was based on the area of the counties applying. A further €10.5 million was subsequently provided, bringing the total to €21 million, as a result of the reprofiling of capital within the Department of Rural and Community Development. The funding was again distributed to local authorities based on their request for funding. A certain percentage of the funding was provided. However, it is only a drop in the ocean in terms of the number of roads that can be addressed compared with the number that are awaiting funding.

My understanding is the budget is €11 million this year, which is an increase on the €10.5 million that was allocated last year, but it will only go so far. My county got just under €700,000, which is very welcome, but it only covers a very small percentage of the roads awaiting funding. I ask that we examine whether further capital funding in the Department of Rural and Community Development can be reprofiled and provided for local improvement scheme roads. When funding is provided, we know it is used by the local authorities. Very often, these roads lead to important amenities in communities such as lakes, mountains and trails, which are vital in terms of well-being and people being able to enjoy the outdoor amenities in communities. It is not simply the case that they go to people's homes. I ask that more funding would be provided, at least a further €11 million and, if possible, a lot more.

We used to have the bóithre áise scheme in the Gaeltacht areas. Now, more than ever, the funding for local improvement schemes is important to try to address the deficiencies in non-council roads in those Gaeltacht areas also.

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