Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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1598. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide emergency funding to Clare County Council under CIS and LIS following a very rough winter period which made significant damage to the more rural roads in the County; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13328/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The scheme funds repair works on non-public roads not normally maintained by local authorities.

In 2023 alone, a record investment of almost €30 million was allocated to local authorities nationwide, bringing the total amount invested in LIS since its re-introduction in 2017 to almost €130 million. over €1.37 million was allocated to Clare County Council to fund works in 2023 to complete works on their list of priority roads.

Whilst my Department is pleased to support efforts to ensure a high standard of roads in rural areas, primary responsibility for the upkeep and repair on public roads remains within the remit of the local authorities and the Department of Transport. Flood relief initiatives and associated schemes are funded via the Office of Public Works and local authorities.

The Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) is a joint venture approach between local authorities and local communities, carrying out maintenance and repair works on suitable regional and local roads. It is funded by the Department of Transport, and my Department has no role in this scheme.

I have made numerous representations to my colleague, the Minister for Transport regarding contributing to a jointly funded Local Improvement Scheme. I will continue to engage with the Minister and in the meantime I will work with local authorities to ensure that the LIS continues to deliver maximum benefits in rural communities across Ireland.

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

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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1599. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development what steps she will take to ensure that all 30 applications made under CIS and 146 applications made under LIS to Clare County Council will be funded by her Department in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13329/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. This reflects the vital contribution that the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland.

The scheme was re-introduced in 2017 following several years with no dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2023, my Department has allocated almost €130 million towards improvement works on over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes. These works have benefitted almost 20,000 landowners and residents in rural Ireland.

From 2017 to 2023, over €6.3 million has been allocated to Clare County Council to fund LIS works carried out on over 149 roads non-public roads. In 2023, over €1.37 million was allocated in LIS funding to Clare for repair and maintenance works on 22 roads benefiting 73 households.

While my Department provides funding, the selection of roads to be funded under the scheme is a matter for each local authority and is based on the priority or condition of particular roads in their county. Local authorities may rely on existing lists of eligible roads and/or advertise for new applicant roads.

My Department is currently finalising the scheme details for the coming year and an announcement is expected shortly. My officials will be in contact with local authorities as soon as it is announced and will work closely with local authorities to ensure this year's LIS funding is fully utilised.

With regard to the Community Involvement Scheme (CIS), this is a scheme funded by the Department of Transport. It is a joint approach between local authorities and local communities for the restoration/maintenance of suitable public roads and is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport.