Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has sent her apologies that she could not be here today. I am here on her behalf to respond to the Commencement matter.

The local improvement scheme is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is administered through the local authorities. The focus of the scheme is to support the continued improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities but which represent a vital piece of infrastructure for rural residents.

Both the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I understand just how important this scheme is for people in rural areas and farm families in particular. There is no other source of funding for these roads, which provide vital access to agricultural lands and rural homes. Importantly, as well as providing access to rural homes and farmlands, the scheme is also used to fund non-public roads, leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountain access points and other tourist and heritage sites. This service is another important improvement to access and connectivity for rural areas at a local level.

As part of Our Rural Future, the Government has committed to ensuring that the local improvement scheme is funded into the future. The scheme was reintroduced by the Department of Rural and Community Development in 2017, and this followed a number of years with no dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2023, almost €130 million was allocated to local authorities under the local improvement scheme. However, it remains the case that there is a strong demand for the scheme on the ground and, with this in mind, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, allocated a further €40 million to the scheme in April of this year. This allocation is in respect of works to be carried out over 2024 and 2025 and will allow local authorities to plan for the more efficient and effective delivery of road improvements at a local level.

A further important change was also made to the scheme this year. Again, this was aimed at ensuring the scheme maximises impact across the country. Up to 2023, the scheme required two herd numbers on the parcel serviced by a lane for repair. This requirement has now been changed such that only one herd number is required this year. This change was introduced following feedback from a number of local representatives, and it has been well received.

For a number of years, the Department has recommended that land parcels served by roads for repair be a minimum of 1 ha in size. This recommendation has been in place with a view to supporting the delivery of the best value for money with the funding available under the scheme. In keeping with the overall operation of the scheme, however, this has always been a recommendation and the final decision in relation to the selection of roads for repair remains with the local authority. While this element of the operation of the scheme remains a recommendation this year, I am aware that there have been a number of queries recently in this regard.

Officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development engage with the local authorities on an ongoing basis as to the delivery of the scheme. Given the queries arising in relation to eligible roads in this instance, I am aware that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has requested her officials to engage directly with local authorities on this matter and to review how this recommendation is currently being implemented. I can confirm that the funding of local improvement schemes remains a matter of priority for the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and her colleagues and that the Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure the scheme continues to deliver real and tangible benefits for rural communities across Ireland.