John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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865. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the local improvement scheme from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; the monies for same that have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15169/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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. Given LIS is intended to support the upkeep of rural roads, Cork City Council does not form part of the scheme.

In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across local authorities to cover 2024/2025. My officials have recently opened the administration of the 2025 Local Improvement Scheme.

Since 2017, Cork County Council has been allocated a total of €12.99 million in funding. This figure includes the 2024/2025 allocation of €2.87 million.

While my Department provides funding to local authorities to support the operation of the scheme, each local authority is solely responsible for the prioritisation and selection of roads for inclusion in the scheme. Applicants apply directly to the Council and provide a local contribution towards the works and as such, the records of individual applicants and projects are maintained at local authority level.

The table below displays the information requested by the Deputy from 2020 – 2024.

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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866. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the walks scheme from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15170/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s Walks Scheme provides funding to private landholders (participants) who maintain, develop and repair the portion of the trail that traverses their land. The scheme is administered by 22 Local Development Companies (LDCs) and not by local authorities. In Cork, the scheme is administered by IRD Duhallow, Comhar na nOileán and West Cork Development Partnership.

There are currently 6 trails operational on the Walks Scheme in Co Cork:

• Sheep's Head Way.
• Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai.
• Beara Cork.
• Beara Islands (Dursey).
• Whiddy Island Walk-Sheep's Head Way.
• Duhallow Way.

Details of funding provided to participants in Co Cork under the Walks Scheme from 2020 to 2024 are outlined in the table below. Also included is funding provided to cover the costs of purchasing everyday materials and the once-off costs associated with small capital projects under the Walks Scheme Development Funding (WSDF).