Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

103. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to each local authority in 2024 and 2025 for the local improvement scheme; the number of lanes it is expected that will be covered by the scheme in each local authority area in each year; and if there are plans to increase the funding allocation further this year. [13718/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an additional allocation to Monaghan County Council for the local improvement scheme in 2025. [13719/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 132 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 administration of the 2025 Local Improvement Scheme and invited local authorities to submit their lists of priority roads.

The Programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for the LIS and I am committed to ensuring that the Scheme continues to be well funded in the coming years.

In terms of annual funding allocations, a review of the scheme is carried out by Department officials ahead of any new funding announcements in order to ensure allocations across our local authorities are made as fairly and efficiently as possible. My Department officials also work closely with local authorities to ensure that funding is fully utilised. As has been the case in recent years, I will continue to monitor capital expenditure across my Department as the year progresses with a view to utilising any savings which may arise for schemes such as the LIS

Since 2017, Monaghan has received a total of almost €6 million in LIS funding which has resulted in the completion of 153 roads.

The following table outlines LIS allocations per county, the number of roads completed in 2024 and the number of roads that local authorities have provisionally estimated would be completed in 2025.