Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme, or 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 makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.

The Local Improvement Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. 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.

I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this year with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 million for improvement works on our off shore Islands. This is the third consecutive year in which the basic allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme has been increased. I also announced the allocations for 2023 earlier than was the case in 2022 in order to give local authorities the most time possible to complete works on the ground.

The selection of roads for submission to my Department is exclusively a matter for the local authorities, in line with the Scheme Outline. Section 4 of the outline refers to the selection and prioritisation of projects by local authorities. In prioritising projects, the local authority should have regard to a number of factors including special circumstances such as hardship cases or access for elderly or disabled occupants.

The prioritisation of projects by the local authority is to be applied once the eligibility criteria has been satisfied as set out in section 3 of the Scheme Outline.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1390. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 1620 of 21 March 2023, if she will provide an update on the RRDF Project funding for Cahir, County Tipperary; when the local authority will be able to draw down funds and begin work on the town centre renovation, car park, and library projects in Cahir; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27198/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €398 million for projects costing €545 million.

The Fund is central to achieving the objectives and key deliverables of "Our Rural Future" – the Government's five year policy for Rural Ireland. The projects supported by the Fund assist in the regeneration of rural towns and villages including by addressing vacancy and dereliction and positioning them for further growth through regeneration and town centre renewal. The Fund also invests in strategic projects that contribute to further economic development in rural areas.

In November 2022, I announced funding of €115 million for 23 projects worth a total of €162 million from the fourth call for Category 1 (i.e. shovel-ready) applications. This is the largest allocation of funding since the RRDF was established. The projects announced will be delivered across two phases.

As part of that announcement, I allocated funding of over €30 million in total for three projects led by Tipperary County Council. €14.4 million for the Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration project in Phase 1, €11.9 million for the Activating Cahir’s Town Centre Regeneration project and €4.5 million for the Reimagining and Regeneration of Gantly Street in Phase 2.

The projects in Phase 1 can be commenced once the due diligence process is completed with my Department. I am informed by my officials that the Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration project has been approved for funding in principle and Phase 1 of the project has been approved by my Department to progress to tender.

My Department will be engaging with lead parties to agree on a timeline for the commencement of Phase 2 projects in due course. The timeframe will be linked to the level of progress achieved on Phase 1 projects and on other existing Rural Regeneration and Development Fund projects currently being progressed by Tipperary County Council.

The scale of the fourth call announcement will guarantee that there is a pipeline of ambitious projects that are ready to be delivered over the coming years. My Department will work with the successful lead parties to manage their project pipeline and ensure that approved projects progress at a sustainable pace.