Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the local improvement scheme in County Louth in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37552/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, the Government has provided local authorities with almost €170 million under the scheme.

Since 2017, Louth has been allocated a total of €3.27 million in LIS funding. This figure includes the 2024/2025 allocation of €0.98 million. This equates to 70 roads being completed from 2017 to 2024, with an estimated five further roads to be completed in 2025.

While the Department provides funding for the scheme, it is administered by local authorities who are responsible for selecting and prioritising roads for works under the scheme and managing waiting lists of eligible roadways. Local authorities can rely on existing waiting lists or open the scheme to new applications each year.

The Programme for Government commits to supporting rural communities, including increasing funding under the Local Improvement Scheme. My Department is currently engaging with the ongoing review of the National Development Plan with a view to increasing the capital allocations for schemes such as LIS. I will also continue to monitor capital expenditure across my Department as the year progresses, with the potential to utilise any savings that may arise elsewhere for schemes such as the Local Improvement Scheme.