Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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2052.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide Kerry County Council with project returns and details of the local contribution received for a 2022 local improvement scheme amenity/community road in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35425/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving rural roads and laneways not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future.

While my Department provides funding for the Scheme, local authorities administer the scheme and are solely responsible for selecting and prioritising road projects. Local authorities are also responsible for ensuring the local contribution is paid before any works commence.

The road referenced by the Deputy is an amenity road and one of a total of 23 roads completed under the LIS scheme in Kerry for 2022. As per the terms of the scheme, the local authority is responsible for paying the local contribution in respect of an amenity road. In the cases of amenity roads, a minimum requirement of 15% applies in respect of local contributions. Once works have been completed and in order to drawdown funding, local authorities are required to provide the Department with an updated list of roads completed within the calendar year, as well as expenditure details other information regarding the project. Local authorities are also required to maintain all financial records relating to a project for a period of at least 6 years after project completion. As such, Kerry County Council have confirmed to my officials that they have the records referred to on file.