Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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322. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are grants provided for under her Department that allow for improvement works to be carried out on car parks and footpaths around local parish and community halls and centres, being cognisant of the fact the Community Centre Investment Fund does not appear to cover these works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10732/23]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development whether it is intended to provide funding for the improvement of a LIS road on an island in 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10734/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) 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 and island residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme.  Up to 2022 this has seen upgrade works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

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 have increased the funding for the Local Improvement Scheme each year since 2021 and allocated an additional €20.5 million during 2021 and 2022 towards the scheme. I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an additional €0.55 million for improvement works on our offshore islands. 

With reference to your specific query on Bóthar an Dúna, Inis Meáin, funding in the amount of €250,000 has been made available for offshore islands in County Galway of which Inis Meáin is included.  Once eligibility on individual roads and lanes has been ascertained, it is then a matter for the relevant local authority to assign priority with regard to submitting particular roads to my Department for approval.

The deadline for receiving submissions for LIS 2023 is 10 March 2023.