Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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2578. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an allocation for County Laois under the local improvement scheme will be made for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19567/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is just one of a number of initiatives funded under my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. This Programme also includes the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, CLÁR and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

The Local Authorities are central to the delivery of these programmes. My Department launches the programmes each year in a planned way, with staggered opening and closing dates, to allow the Local Authorities plan and manage their engagement with communities and the preparation of applications under the different schemes.

I launched the CLÁR programme on 15th March and I will be announcing details of the other schemes, including the LIS, over the coming weeks. The LIS allocation for 2021 for each Local Authority, including in County Laois, will be announced at that stage.

The overall LIS budget for 2021 is €10.5 million, an increase of 5% on last year.