Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total amount of funding allocated to local improvement schemes in 2026; the number of local improvement schemes that are on the list for funding with Mayo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15652/26]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides for the upgrade of non-public rural roads and laneways that are typically not maintained by local authorities. It was re-introduced by my Department in 2017 and since then, over €201 million has been allocated to local authorities for LIS.

Last month, I was pleased to launch the 2026 scheme with funding of €17.55 million. I can confirm that Mayo County Council has been allocated €1.2 million, including €50,000 in ringfenced funding for works on LIS island roads. This is an increase on the initial base funding allocated in 2025. This funding announcement brings the total allocated to Mayo County Council since 2017 to €12.58 million.

While the Department provides funding for the scheme, it is managed by local authorities, which are responsible for selecting and prioritising roads. This includes handling applications, prioritising eligible roads, scheduling works, and maintaining waiting lists. At year-end 2025, Mayo County Council indicated 330 roads requests for repair under the scheme.

My officials have engaged with all local authorities who are in the process of preparing their lists of roads for completion in 2026. The scheme will be closely monitored to ensure funding is fully utilised and that as many roads as possible are completed under the scheme.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he can assist a community in County Clare (details supplied) to repair a vandalised playground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22541/26]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for playgrounds is provided by my department through schemes such as the CLÁR programme and through the LEADER programme.

On the 10th of March I was delighted to launch the 2026 CLAR programme with a record budget of €12 million. This year, following a review of CLÁR areas, I have designated 110 new electoral divisions as eligible for CLÁR, including three in Clare. The community referenced by the Deputy is one of the new areas in Clare covered under CLÁR and may wish to apply for funding in respect of the playground.

Measure 1 of the CLÁR programme is administered by the local authorities. I would encourage the community to liaise with Clare County Council who will be in a position to advise on the next steps in submitting an expression of interest for consideration under the CLÁR programme for 2026.

The current LEADER programme covers the period from 2023 to 2027. It provides support to rural communities under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, and has for many years supported community facilities such as playgrounds once they are compatible with the Operating Rules and the Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area. Prospective applicants in County Clare should contact their LEADER Local Action Group (LAG), Clare Local Development Company, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. Clare Local Development Company can be contacted by phone on 065-686 6800 or by e-mail at leader@cldc.ie.

There are also a range of other funding opportunities available from my Department, details of which are on my Department’s website.

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the position of the LEADER programme in the context of the future of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22905/26]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The LEADER programme delivers tangible benefits to rural communities in areas such as economic development and job creation, rural infrastructure, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

It is funded as an intervention under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and, therefore, the development of the EU regulations relating to the post 2027 CAP, and the new National and Regional Partnership Plan is a matter of significant importance to my Department.

Ireland has and will continue to advocate for a well funded CAP that supports farm resilience, environmental ambition, and rural development measures such as LEADER.

Within the draft regulations, the inclusion of the LEADER programme as a CAP intervention is to be welcomed. As part of the on-going negotiation process, my department continues to input into the draft regulations and emphasise the importance of a ringfenced allocation for the LEADER Programme.

I note that detailed discussions in relation to the shape and operation of the new regulations are on-going at both national and EU levels.

To facilitate the current negotiation process for the post 2027 period, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine has established a CAP Consultative Committee, which includes representation from my department and other rural stakeholders. My department is also inputting into the draft regulations and actively liaising with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine in this regard.

Separately, I have engaged with Irish MEPs to discuss a range of issues including LEADER funding in the context of the next EU budgetary cycle, and I will continue this work with MEPs and my Government colleagues to ensure that the LEADER programme is well funded into the future.