Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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870. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of local improvement scheme roads repaired in each Cork county municipal district in each of the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42976/24]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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871. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount that was spent on local improvement scheme roads in each Cork county municipal district in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42987/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 870 and 871 together.

The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are generally not maintained by local authorities.

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 nearly 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

While my Department provides funding for the Scheme, it is administered by each local authority, who are responsible for the selection and prioritisation of roads in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in the Scheme outline.

My Department retains LIS information on a county rather than municipal area basis. Details relating to municipal areas may be available through the relevant local authorities. The table below sets out the overall funding allocated to Cork County Council in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and to date in 2024, the number of roads completed and the amount spent in tabular form under LIS.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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872. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the budget allocation for the senior alert scheme in 2023 and 2024; the budget allocation for same in 2025, in tabular form. [43128/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Funding provided by my Department supports the Seniors Alert Scheme, which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.

The scheme’s allocation for 2023 to 2025 is set out in the table below. As this is a demand led scheme, it is kept under continuous review by myself and officials in my Department to ensure adequate funding can be made available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants. There is also provision under the Dormant Accounts Fund for funding to meet the additional and exceptional demands of the scheme.