Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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385. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason in laying down the conditions to qualify for a local improvement scheme for non-county roads, there is a requirement that two herd owners have land on the road; the reason roads into clusters of houses without the required herd-owning land holders on the road are ineligible, particularly as fewer and fewer rural people are engaged in farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14450/23]

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.

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is covered in legislation by the Local Government Act 2001, Section 81 part (3) provides that;

(3) A road authority may provide assistance by way of the carrying out of works, a financial contribution or otherwise towards the construction or improvement of a non-public road which—

(a) provides access to parcels of land of which at least 2 are owned or occupied by different persons, or

(b) provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for 2 or more persons, or

(c) shall in the opinion of the road authority be used by the public

Section 3 of the Scheme Outline details this as eligible criteria. and lists a number of ways in which an individual can verify agricultural activity to satisfy the criteria above.

Roads or lanes leading to clusters of houses where there are no landowners involved in agricultural or harvesting activity would be deemed as ineligible under the criteria outline above.

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 last 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.