Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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902. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be made available to reintroduce the emergency hardship scheme in Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13962/25]

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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903. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if further funding will be provided annually for the LIS schemes in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13963/25]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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907. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he will announce further funding for local authorities under the local improvement scheme; and if priority can be given to local authorities with significant waiting lists. [14115/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 902, 903 and 907 together.

The Local Improvement Scheme (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 the Government to local authorities for LIS.

In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across all local authorities to cover 2024/2025. My officials have recently opened the 2025Scheme and invited local authorities to submit their lists of priority roads for completion in 2025.

Since 2017, Kerry has been allocated a total of €10.35 million in LIS funding. This figure includes the 2024/2025 allocation of €2.57 million.

Since 2017, Sligo has been allocated a total of € 4.53 million in LIS funding, with Leitrim being allocated €5.22 million. These figures include the 2024/2025 allocations of €1.92 million to Sligo and €966,000 to Leitrim.

My Department does not have an ‘Emergency Hardship Scheme’ as referred to by the Deputy and this may relate to a particular local initiative delivered by Kerry County Council. In relation to LIS, individual local authorities are responsible for the management of waiting lists and for the selection of priority road projects to be completed within each county, each calendar year. In prioritising projects, local authorities have regard to factors such as the level of available funding and condition of roads. They can also take into account special circumstances such as hardship cases, or access for elderly or disabled occupants.

The Programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for the LIS. In terms of funding allocations to LIS, a review of the scheme is carried out by Department officials ahead of any new funding announcements in order to ensure funding is allocated across our local authorities as fairly and efficiently as possible. My Department officials also work closely with local authorities to ensure that funding is fully utilised. I have also liaised with my colleague Minister Darragh O'Brien in relation to the possibility of the Department of Transport providing co-funding for the scheme.

Finally, as has been the case in recent years, I will continue to monitor capital expenditure rates across my Department as the year progresses with a view to utilising any savings which may arise for schemes such as the LIS.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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904. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a list of policy initiatives, funding schemes and interventions intended to improve the economic and social development of rural and urban communities funded or administered by his Department. [13969/25]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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905. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a list of projects funded by his Department in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area. [13970/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 904 and 905 together.

Since its establishment, my Department has placed a strong emphasis on the development, publication and implementation of a range of strategic, stakeholder informed and evidence based policies. The development of a robust policy platform has focused the Department’s investment and drives progress in the areas of rural and community development.

The following policies are currently in place and being implemented:

• Our Rural Future.
• Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities.
• Ár nOileáin Bheo.
• Town Centre First.
• Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors.
• The National Hub Strategy (due 2025).
• Trading for Impact.
• The Library is the Place.
• The National Volunteering Strategy.
• The National Philanthropy Strategy.

• the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
• the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
• the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
• the Local Enhancement Programme.
• the Community Services Programme.
• the Community Centre Investment Fund.
• the Community Recognition Fund.