Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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17. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider a reform of the funding model for the local improvement scheme, in view of the unsustainably long waiting lists in counties such as Kerry, notwithstanding the substantial provision of funding to County Kerry in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9268/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.

The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. This has upgraded some 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

From 2017 to 2022, a total of €6.2 million was allocated to County Kerry which saw improvement works carried out on 173 roads. This is the fifth highest allocation nationally.

My Department reviews the scheme criteria each year prior to launch including the mechanism for funding allocation. The prioritisation of roads for submission to my Department is a matter for each local authority in line with the Scheme Outline.

I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 million for improvement works on our offshore Islands. Within this funding, I allocated almost €800,000 to County Kerry bringing their total allocation since the scheme was reintroduced to over €7 million.

I will continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns this year in my Department and should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme as was seen in 2021 and 2022 where an additional €20.5 million was allocated over the two years.

Finally, I am continuing to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Transport regarding his Department contributing to a jointly funded Locally Improvement Scheme.