Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1611. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of plans by the OPW to repair a road (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42071/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware that the OPW has any function in relation to the repair of roads generally although the Deputy may wish to contact the OPW directly in respect of the specific road he refers to.

My Department funds the Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, which 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 relevant local authority. Eligible road projects under the Scheme include those that involve the construction or improvement of non-public roads which provide access to parcels of land of which two or more are owned or occupied by different persons engaged in separate agricultural activities. 

The road referred to by the Deputy may be eligible under the Scheme. Eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant Local Authority which, in the case of the road referred to by the Deputy, would be Kerry County Council. I understand that the scheme is currently closed for new applications in County Kerry but it might, nonetheless, be worthwhile to discuss the potential eligibility of the road directly with Kerry County Council.