Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2693.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the precise criteria by which an applicant may qualify for the local improvement scheme, given that applicants are having difficulty in accessing the relevant criteria for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32643/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded in the future. This reflects the important contribution that the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland.

My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after a number of years without dedicated funding. Since then, my Department has allocated almost €170 million to local authorities under the Scheme. This has upgraded, up to the end of 2023, over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes, benefiting almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is covered in legislation by the Local Government Act 2001, Section 81 part (3) provides that;

(3) A road authority may assist by way of the carrying out of works, a financial contribution or otherwise towards the construction or improvement of a non-public road which—

(a) Provides access to parcels of land of which at least two are owned or occupied by different persons or

(b) Provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons or

(c) Shall, in the opinion of the road authority, be used by the public

Under the revised terms of the 2024 Scheme, eligible road projects are those that involve the construction or improvement of non-public roads which provide access:

• to parcels of land, of which two or more are owned or occupied by different persons, one of which must be engaged in agricultural activities or
• for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons or
• to at least one parcel of land owned or occupied by a person engaged in agricultural activities and which separately provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for at least one other person.