Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the planned 2025 funding allocation for the local improvement scheme (LIS); and if he will provide additional supports to local authorities with significant LIS backlogs. [68474/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, the Government has provided almost €184 million to local authorities for the LIS.

In August, I was delighted to announce €14 million in additional funding for the 2025 scheme. This brings the total amount invested in the LIS in 2025 to over €30 million.

The Programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for the LIS. €17 million in LIS funding was recently announced as part of Budget 2026. This represents an increase in the base allocation to the Scheme in previous years. My officials have engaged closely with local authorities to ensure this LIS funding is fully utilised.

As has been the case over previous years, details of the 2026 scheme, including county allocations and the scheme outline, will be circulated to local authorities and published on the department's website in the new year.