Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

127. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a breakdown on the funds which have been allocated and drawn down for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways under the local improvement scheme, by county or local authority, in tabular form. [44620/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland.

The scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Over 2017 to 2021, improvement works have been completed on over 3,000 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 13,300 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

I was pleased, as part of Budget 2022, to announce an increase in the base funding for LIS from €10.5 million to €11 million this year. To address the strong demand, and following the identification of savings in other capital areas, I was delighted to be in a position to double the overall 2022 provision to €22 million this August

The prioritisation and selection of eligible LIS roads is a matter for each relevant local authority within broad parameters set down by my Department. Following the launch of the LIS with the confirmation of county allocations, each local authority submits a priority list of roads as well as a reserve list to my Department before works commence locally.

Since LIS was reintroduced in 2017, aggregate investment has now surpassed the €100 million mark, which is clear testament to Government's commitment in Our Rural Future to improve rural connectivity

The county allocations and drawdowns for 2021, as well as the allocation for 2022, are set out in the table below. The final out-turn for 2022 will be established in November when the programme of works are complete.