Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1044. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when further funding will be released to local authorities to complete local improvement scheme roads; the amount sought for such roads by Kerry County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27037/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities.  The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. 

There was no dedicated funding available for this scheme for a number of years until it was re-launched in 2017.  Since then, over €58 million has been allocated to the Local Authorities to deliver the scheme.

In March this year, €10 million was made available for the 2020 Local Improvement Scheme, with each Local Authority being provided with the same financial allocation as 2019.  The amount of funding allocated to Kerry under the 2020 Scheme is €669,930.

All Local Authorities have determined the roads to be funded under the scheme this year and funding letters of offer have issued to the Local Authorities on this basis.

I expect all roads designated by the Local Authorities to be completed by the end of the year; therefore, there is no additional funding available for distribution to the Local Authorities under the LIS this year.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that the Local Improvement Scheme is funded into the future.  Decisions on the level of funding available for the scheme will be made in the context of the annual Estimates process.