Rural Schemes

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Questions (629)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

629. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding granted to each county under the local improvement scheme for each year from 2017 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6438/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.

The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years without dedicated funding. Since then, almost €130 million has been invested in the scheme.

The table below sets out the overall funding allocated on a county basis from 2017 - 2023:

County	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	Total
Carlow	€440,460	€528,279	€250,000	€250,000	€463,931	€944,082	€567,772	€3,444,524
Cavan	€335,080	€636,680	€269,254	€269,254	€1,119,389	€1,273,457	€1,741,411	€5,644,525
Clare	€866,774	€1,038,844	€480,811	€480,811	€828,528	€1,238,015	€1,367,910	€6,301,693
Cork	€1,151,985	€1,700,000	€900,000	€900,000	€1,412,738	€1,298,240	€2,755,923	€10,118,886
Donegal	€3,384,000	€1,792,516	€677,456	€677,456	€1,188,403	€1,711,214	€1,990,509	€11,421,554
Galway	€1,368,651	€1,942,000	€856,959	€856,959	€1,580,871	€1,682,841	€1,994,259	€10,282,540
Kerry	€995,578	€1,209,990	€669,930	€669,930	€1,187,099	€1,495,490	€1,557,176	€7,785,193
Kildare	€0	€329,591	€250,000	€250,000	€495,586	€435,326	€304,736	€2,065,239
Kilkenny	€605,565	€679,683	€288,905	€288,905	€778,682	€628,610	€641,753	€3,912,103
Laois	€812,270	€568,255	€250,000	€250,000	€554,259	€860,277	€1,231,151	€4,526,212
Leitrim	€487,947	€550,120	€250,000	€250,000	€503,830	€1,081,038	€1,135,919	€4,258,854
Limerick	€544,861	€684,349	€384,092	€384,090	€1,504,659	€930,989	€1,182,549	€5,615,589
Longford	€302,443	€472,217	€250,000	€250,000	€393,041	€465,940	€593,350	€2,726,991
Louth	€250,000	€250,000	€250,000	€250,000	€417,821	€448,273	€422,764	€2,288,858
Mayo	€1,272,974	€1,843,235	€778,496	€778,496	€1,361,625	€610,944	€1,571,736	€8,217,506
Meath	€474,290	€773,404	€326,394	€326,394	€803,937	€569,299	€994,513	€4,268,231
Monaghan	€366,312	€540,841	€250,000	€250,000	€1,326,223	€932,889	€1,342,724	€5,008,989
Offaly	€676,155	€644,654	€278,871	€278,871	€545,240	€674,785	€704,325	€3,802,901
Roscommon	€421,258	€820,968	€355,104	€355,104	€445,495	€571,758	€512,825	€3,482,512
Sligo	€496,158	€606,870	€256,154	€256,154	€470,542	€358,030	€896,127	€3,340,035
Tipperary	€246,900	€794,400	€599,969	€599,969	€721,531	€1,125,773	€1,865,091	€5,953,633
Waterford	€718,689	€607,047	€258,802	€258,802	€872,759	€587,176	€817,570	€4,120,845
Westmeath	€516,324	€607,224	€256,433	€256,433	€628,389	€656,781	€515,416	€3,437,000
Wexford	€494,493	€511,410	€329,878	€329,878	€653,786	€781,027	€1,030,935	€4,131,407
Wicklow	€310,000	€668,135	€282,494	€282,494	€741,635	€637,748	€777,488	€3,699,994
Total	€17,539,167	€20,800,712	€10,000,002	€10,000,000	€20,999,999	€22,000,002	€28,515,932	€129,855,814

A total of €13.55 million has been allocated to LIS in 2024, and my Department is currently finalising the scheme details for the coming year.

I intend to continue to seek the support of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, with a view to co-funding the LIS, in particular to address the strong demand that continues to exist for the scheme.