Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to consider the provision of additional funding for the local improvement scheme for 2025 in line with the Programme for Government commitment; when he expects the 2026 scheme to be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38160/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its reintroduction in 2017, the government has provided almost €170 million to local authorities under the Scheme.

In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across all local authorities to cover 2024/2025. My Department officials have now received submissions from all eligible local authorities in respect of proposed 2025 LIS works and have given sanction for these works to begin.

As in previous years, I will continue to monitor capital expenditure across my Department as the year progresses. Should any savings emerge in the coming weeks, there is potential to utilise such savings for schemes such as the Local Improvement Scheme, which would enable additional works to be carried out before the end of the year.

The Programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for the LIS. As the Deputy will be aware, discussions on funding allocations for the Department's schemes in 2026 are part of the annual estimates process and details will be announced as part of Budget 2026 later this year.

My Department endeavours to ensure that the launch of the Scheme is announced as early as possible to allow local authorities to plan and manage their resources so that as many roads as possible are included for upgrade under the Scheme each year. It is my intention that local authorities will be advised of the details of the 2026 Scheme following its launch in early 2026.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will commit to continuing the rural regeneration development fund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38306/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Administered by my Department, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. It forms part of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme, and has allocated €588 million to 243 projects across Ireland to date.

The Programme for Government recognises the importance of investing in our rural towns and villages through schemes such as the RRDF, and contains commitments to both increase the Fund, and to continue to invest in regional tourism projects under the Fund.

I am committed to ensuring that the RRDF can continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future. For example, an assessment of applications process is currently ongoing, following an RRDF Call for Category 2 Proposals which closed in March of this year. I anticipate an announcement of successful projects will be made in Quarter 3 this year. I also expect that a further Call for Category 1 Proposals under the Fund would open for applications at the end of this year.