Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that will be provided for the local improvement scheme under the CLÁR programme in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34155/20]

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.

The LIS is now a separate standalone scheme and is not delivered through the CLÁR programme.

Since the LIS was re-launched in its own right in 2017, over €58 million has been allocated to Local Authorities for improvements to qualifying roads under the scheme. The scheme is important for many people in rural areas, as these roads provide access to agriculture lands, homes and amenities such as graveyards and beaches.

An allocation of €10 million was made available this year for the Local Improvement Scheme, and works under the scheme are due to be completed by the end of the year.

Recognising the value of the scheme for people living in rural areas, I was very pleased to secure an increase in the allocation for LIS in Budget 2021. Funding for the scheme next year will increase by 5%, to €10.5 million. The distribution of this funding to each of the relevant Local Authorities will be announced early in 2021.