Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to Cavan and Monaghan county councils for lane improvements works under the local improvement scheme in each year 2020 to 2025; and the proposed allocations for 2026. [53281/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme provides for the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways that are typically not maintained by local authorities.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017, and now forms a central element of my department's overarching Rural Development Investment Programme.
I am aware that the scheme continues to be very popular across the country, and since 2017 over €201 million in funding has been allocated to local authorities, with over 5,500 roads improved under the scheme.
I was pleased to launch the 2026 Local Improvement in February, with increased based funding of €17.55 million.
Within this overall allocation, Cavan County Council received €527,400, while Monaghan County Council was granted €385,880.
This brings the total amount allocated to Cavan County Council since 2020 to over €6.8 million, with Monaghan County Council allocated over €5.7 million.
I have appended the annual details requested by the Deputy to this answer.
My officials have engaged with local authorities who have submitted their priority road lists for 2026. All eligible local authorities have received approval to proceed with works. My officials will closely monitor scheme spending to ensure that funding is fully utilised and that as many road improvements as possible are completed under the scheme this year. I will also seek to ensure via the annual budgetary process that this important scheme continues to be well funded in the years to come.
Cavan County Council was allocated the following LIS funding for each of the following years:
2020: €269,254
2021: €1,119,389
2022: €1,273,457
2023: €1,741,411
2024: €690,084
2025: €1,181,974.
Monaghan County Council was allocated the following LIS funding for each of the following years:
2020: €250,000
2021: €1,326,223
2022: €932,889,
2023: €1,342,724
2024: €564,965
2025: €961,776
