Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1393. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will allocate a major increase in local improvement scheme funding to County Carlow and County Kilkenny and all other local authorities that operate local improvement schemes to address issues the serious underfunding to local authorities in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2534/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government confirms a Government commitment to support rural communities including a commitment to increase funding under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). LIS supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by Government to local authorities for LIS. This funding has resulted in improvement works on nearly 4,500 roads, benefitting over 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Since 2017, Carlow has been allocated €4.38 million and Kilkenny €5.27 million in LIS funding. This figure includes a 2024/2025 allocation of €0.98 million for Carlow and €1.3 million for Kilkenny.

While the Department provides funding for the Scheme, it is administered by each local authority, who retain responsibility for the selection and prioritisation of roads and management of waiting lists. It should be noted that the ability of local authorities to meet demand under the scheme is not purely a function of available funding, as other factors such as weather conditions and the availability of contractors and labour are also relevant. Department officials continue to liaise closely with local authorities to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the scheme.

I am conscious of the important supports provided to rural communities under the LIS, and I will be engaging with my colleague the Minister for Transport to request that his Department make a contribution to co-funding the scheme.