Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding drawn down for local improvements schemes in County Cork for 2022; if all funding allocated to Cork County Council under the scheme for 2022 was drawn down; if not, if moneys will be available to draw down in addition to the 2023 allocation to Cork County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19329/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of 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 with no dedicated funding. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. This has upgraded some 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Between 2017 and 2022, almost €7.4 million was provided to County Cork which has resulted in improvement works taking place on 186 roads benefitting landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Cork was allocated a total of €1,298,240 in 2022. It expended a total of €1,173,997 resulting in an underspend of €124,243 which was returned to the exchequer and will not be available as additional funding for 2023. This year €1,065,151 has been allocated to Cork for improvement works, including an Island allocation of €140,000, bringing the total allocation to County Cork since 2017 to just over €8.4 million.

I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 million for improvement works on our off shore Islands. This is the third consecutive year where the basic allocation for the Scheme has been increased. I also announced the allocations for 2023 earlier than was the case in 2022, in order to give local authorities the most time possible to complete works on the ground.

I will continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns this year in my Department and should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme as was seen in 2021 and 2022.

Finally, I am continuing to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Transport regarding his Department contributing to a jointly funded Local Improvement Scheme.