Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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318. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application for the town and village renewal scheme 2023 by an organisation (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; when they might be awarded funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17081/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland.

As committed to under Our Rural Future and in line with the Town Centre First Policy, scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities.

The 2023 Scheme has a renewed focus on town centre economic and social vibrancy which includes the development of recreational spaces/amenities in town centres to make them vibrant hubs for community enjoyment and to increase footfall for local businesses.

The 2023 Scheme is now closed and the competitive assessment process is nearing completion. I can confirm that an application has been received in relation to the project referred to. However, I would like to emphasise that the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is heavily subscribed, and funding will be allocated based on the quality of the proposed projects, the geographical spread of projects and the available budget. I expect to announce the successful projects shortly.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 323 together.

My Department provides funding for the Local Improvement Scheme but each local authority is responsible for administering the scheme in their own areas, in line with the Scheme outline.

In order to draw down allocated funding, each local authority is required to submit documentation including a list of completed works. My Department closely examines the documentation submitted and will only approve payment once all required documentation has been checked and is deemed to be in order. Any queries are returned to each local authority for clarification. Once approved by my officials, payment is then issued.

In order to monitor the scheme and to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions, the Scheme is in included in the programme of inspections implemented by my Department.

A local authority may be required to repay some or all of the funding provided if, at inspection, it is identified that a project is deemed ineligible under the scheme. The local authority has the right to appeal any such decision within one month.

The following is a summary of inspections carried out from 2017 - 2021. Inspections of works carried out in 2022 and 2023 are ongoing.

Of the roads repaired under LIS in 2017, a sample of roads was inspected across 6 counties. On foot of this a total amount of €420,638 was identified for recoupment.

Of the roads repaired in 2018, a sample of roads across 6 counties was inspected. On foot of this, a total of €378,430 was identified for recoupment.

Of the roads repaired in 2019, a sample of roads across 11 counties was inspected. On foot of this, a total of €61,218 was identified for recoupment.

Of the roads repaired in 2020, a sample of roads across 10 counties was inspected. On foot of this a total of €74,087 was identified for recoupment.

Of the roads repaired in 2021, a sample of roads across 6 counties was examined. On foot of this, a total of €55,500.65 was identified for recoupment.

The Scheme is also subject to the standard internal and external audit procedures which apply across such publicly funded programmes as part of my Department's overall voted allocation.

My officials maintain ongoing engagement with local authorities to deal with any queries as they arise, in order to support the efficient and effective delivery of the Scheme.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.

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. Between 2017 and 2023 my Department has allocated almost €130 million to local authorities under the Local Improvement Scheme. This has upgraded, up to end of 2023, over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes which has benefitted almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

While my Department provides funding for the Scheme, each local authority is responsible for administering the Scheme in its area. Local authorities are responsible for the selection and prioritisation of roads, and the procurement and tender process in line with Public Spending Code, National and EU guidelines. Given the range of factors influencing costs, such as scope and nature of work, the diversity of locations and physical contexts of LIS roads and varying levels of availability of contractors, the Department does not carry out direct price comparisons.

Local authorities however, are required to retain procurement documentation, including requests for tenders/quotations, the tenders/quotations received, details of how the tenders/quotations were assessed and the successful tender/quotation and to provide these records to my Department if requested to do so. It is important to note that costs incurred should represent a convincing value for money proposition, and that the investment is commensurate with the benefits that the improved roads will provide.

My Department will continue to closely monitor expenditure to ensure LIS funding is fully utilised by each local authority. Additionally, LIS funding is subject to the annual programme of inspections implemented by the Inspections, Compliance and Business Development Unit of my Department.

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.

While the scheme is funded by my Department, each local authority is responsible for the administration of the scheme. Local authorities submit a list of roads to be completed under the Scheme for approval by my Department. Once approval is granted, each local authority must sign and return a funding agreement to my officials agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

LIS funds are released to local authorities upon receipt of fully completed documentation which includes a list of roads completed. My Department has received one request for drawdown of funds in respect of a road not completed in 2020, based on exceptional circumstances, from Meath County Council. In this case, a pre-fund of €110,000 was authorised as a once off measure for surface works on roads unable to be completed within the given time frame due to severe weather conditions.

My Department engages with local authorities on an ongoing basis and encourages the completion of works as early as possible in the year in order to avoid situations where work is impeded by adverse weather.

I intend to announce the next round of allocations under the Local Improvement Scheme shortly.

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. Between 2017 and 2023 my Department has allocated almost €130 million to local authorities under the Local Improvement Scheme. This has upgraded, up to end of 2023, over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes which has benefitted almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

The following table the number of roads completed per county since 2017. However, given the level of detail the Deputy has sought and the volume of capital projects my Department funds, it is not possible to give a full reply in the allotted timeframe. My officials are currently compiling the remaining elements of the information requested and this will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

LIS Roads Completed

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 important contribution which the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland.

LIS was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following several years with no dedicated funding. Since then, almost €130 million has been allocated towards repair works on rural roads and laneways not normally maintained by local authorities. This has upgraded, up to end of 2023, over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes which has benefitted almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

In 2023 alone, I allocated almost €30 million in funding for LIS. This represents the highest annual investment under LIS ever and was the third consecutive year in which funding allocated to the scheme has increased. This reflects the priority that I have afforded to the scheme in recent years.

A number of factors are taken into consideration when allocating funding, the major factor being the amount allocated to LIS under the annual budgetary process. Funding allocations are not based on requests from individual local authorities, but instead are based on the overall envelope available, the area of each county, with a minimum and maximum ceiling applied.

In the past, I have announced a second round of funding when savings have been identified in other areas of my Department. In such instances, local authorities are then requested to submit a list of further roads they have the capacity to deliver in a given timeframe, and a second allocation of funding is provided based on the amount of works each local authority has indicated they can deliver.

The following table outlines the amount allocated to each local authority from 2017 to 2023.

LIS Allocations

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 over €113 million has supported more than 1,700 projects across the country.

Last year, I launched the 2023 ORIS scheme with applications invited under the following four Measures:

• Measure 1: small scale projects requiring funding of up to €30,000,
• Measure 2: medium scale projects with funding of up to €200,000,
• Measure 3: large scale projects seeking funding of up to €500,000, and
• Project Development Measure: funding of up to €50,000 for development costs for strategic large scale projects.

Last month, I was delighted to announce the approval of 151 successful projects to the value of over €4.1 million under Measure 1 of the 2023 scheme. These include a range of outdoor adventure projects throughout rural Ireland.

Applications submitted under Measures 2 and 3 of the 2023 scheme are currently being assessed. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement in the coming weeks on the successful projects under these Measures.