Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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57. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps which she is taking to address the backlog in local improvement scheme applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26253/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme supports improving rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. I am acutely aware of the scheme's importance to rural landowners and residents. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future.

My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after several years without dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2024, my Department allocated almost €170 million to local authorities under the scheme. Up to the end of 2023, this has upgraded over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes, benefitting almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

I recently announced €40 million in funding to cover works under the Scheme across 2024 and 2025, of which Galway received more than €2.6m and Roscommon received €1.54m.

While significant progress made in recent years, there remains strong demand under the Scheme. With this is in mind and in order to help local authorities better plan their work programmes, this year I have directed additional funding to the LIS and have allocated funding to local authorities for both 2024 and 2025. My Department also works closely with local authorities to ensure funding is fully utilised.

Importantly, although my Department funds the scheme, it is administered by local authorities. It is therefore a matter exclusively for local authorities to determine priorities based on local demand. I have however emphasised the importance of focusing on delivery in recent years.

It is my intention to continue to support the Scheme and, additionally, I have been engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, with a view to that Department co-funding the Scheme to further support this important scheme.