Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
902. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be made available to reintroduce the emergency hardship scheme in Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13962/25]
View answer903. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if further funding will be provided annually for the LIS schemes in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13963/25]
View answer907. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he will announce further funding for local authorities under the local improvement scheme; and if priority can be given to local authorities with significant waiting lists. [14115/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 902, 903 and 907 together.
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.
In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across all local authorities to cover 2024/2025. My officials have recently opened the 2025Scheme and invited local authorities to submit their lists of priority roads for completion in 2025.
Since 2017, Kerry has been allocated a total of €10.35 million in LIS funding. This figure includes the 2024/2025 allocation of €2.57 million.
Since 2017, Sligo has been allocated a total of € 4.53 million in LIS funding, with Leitrim being allocated €5.22 million. These figures include the 2024/2025 allocations of €1.92 million to Sligo and €966,000 to Leitrim.
My Department does not have an ‘Emergency Hardship Scheme’ as referred to by the Deputy and this may relate to a particular local initiative delivered by Kerry County Council. In relation to LIS, individual local authorities are responsible for the management of waiting lists and for the selection of priority road projects to be completed within each county, each calendar year. In prioritising projects, local authorities have regard to factors such as the level of available funding and condition of roads. They can also take into account special circumstances such as hardship cases, or access for elderly or disabled occupants.
The Programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for the LIS. In terms of funding allocations to LIS, a review of the scheme is carried out by Department officials ahead of any new funding announcements in order to ensure funding is allocated across our local authorities as fairly and efficiently as possible. My Department officials also work closely with local authorities to ensure that funding is fully utilised. I have also liaised with my colleague Minister Darragh O'Brien in relation to the possibility of the Department of Transport providing co-funding for the scheme.
Finally, as has been the case in recent years, I will continue to monitor capital expenditure rates across my Department as the year progresses with a view to utilising any savings which may arise for schemes such as the LIS.
