Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 79 together.

The local improvement scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not usually maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring the LIS is funded into the future.

In April of this year, funding of more than €40 million for the 2024 and 2025 schemes was announced, which included additional once-off funding in respect of 2024. This announcement of scheme funding over two years was aimed towards helping local authorities better plan their work programmes, thus supporting their efforts in meeting the strong demand for the scheme at local level. The 2024-25 allocation brings the total amount of funding provided for the scheme to just under €170 million since 2017. To date, this funding has resulted in improvement works on more than 4,000 roads, benefiting almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Since 2017, Cork has been allocated a total of €12.7 million in local improvement scheme funding. This figure includes the 2024-25 allocation of €2.8 million as well as a total allocation of €420,000 to fund repair works on Cork's island roads. Cork County Council has completed repair works on a total of 233 rural roads and laneways and has indicated that 31 roads will be completed by the end of 2024, with a further 14 roads to be completed in 2025.

Since the scheme launched in 2017, County Meath has been allocated a total of €5.5 million in funding. This figure includes the 2024-25 allocation of €1.3 million. Meath County Council has completed repair works on a total of 100 rural roads and laneways and has indicated that eight roads will be completed in 2024, with a further six roads to be completed in 2025.

While my Department provides funding for the scheme, it is administered by each local authority, which is responsible for the selection and prioritisation of roads in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in the scheme outline. Local authorities may rely on existing waiting lists or reopen their lists to new applicants each year. Local authorities can complete repair works themselves or engage private contractors to complete works on their behalf in accordance with applicable procurement rules and public spending code guidelines.

For works completed in 2024, local authorities have until November to submit documentation to draw down funding. Following the completed drawdown process, an updated status relating to remaining demand will be available across local authority areas. It should be noted that local authorities can submit their 2025 priority lists for approval from January 2025. Should savings within the Department be identified, the Department will consider allocating an additional tranche of funding in 2025 to address the demand under the scheme. This approach has worked well in recent years in providing additional resources to local authorities.

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