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.

My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after several years without dedicated funding. Since then, almost €130 million has been invested in it. The scheme makes an essential contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland and my Department works closely with local authorities each year to ensure the available funding is fully utilised.

The table below sets out the overall funding allocated on a county basis in 2023. These figures include funding provided to undertake repair works on island roads eligible under LIS.

My Department is currently finalising the scheme details for this year and an announcement on the terms and conditions of the 2024 Local Improvement Scheme is expected shortly.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of almost €109 million has supported over 1,550 projects across the country.

I launched the 2023 ORIS programme in June of last year with an allocation of €16 million. A range of applications have been submitted under Measures 1 to 3 of the 2023 scheme which fund capital projects of varying scale. Applications were also sought in respect of the Project Development Measure which aims to support communities to bring projects to a shovel ready stage.

Last November, under the ORIS Project Development Measure for 2023, I announced funding of almost €2.3 million to support the development of 50 projects across Ireland. I have provided below a table outlining the amount allocated to each county under this Measure.

The assessment process is currently ongoing for Measures 1, 2 and 3 with approvals due to be announced in the coming weeks.