In the first instance, I want to acknowledge the commitment of the Government to the local improvement scheme, LIS, which has made a real difference to the lives of rural dwellers since its reintroduction in 2017. This is a really important scheme for households, farmers and community amenities in the context of the maintenance and enhancement of access. The funding provided is not meeting the level of demand, however. Following a recent meeting with the area engineer in the Birr municipal district, Brian Keenaghan, I learned that there is a 12-year waiting list. These are applicants who will never benefit from public lighting or roads, but they need this. They are rural people who are willing to make a contribution and who are willing to pay in relation to this scheme. I ask that the Government to consider the provision of supplementary funding for areas where there are long waiting lists. A 12-year waiting list is simply unacceptable.

Deputy Clendennen is absolutely right. I love the local improvement scheme. It works really well. It makes a real difference to rural communities. As he said, people in rural communities who are always looking to get on and help themselves but sometimes are looking for just a little support as well. It is also clear that people like the LIS, and that is why there has been such a demand. We have seen that across the Deputy's county in places like Birr in the context of the carrying out of works on non-public roads that are not normally maintained by local authorities at all. Since 2020, Offaly County Council has been allocated more than €4.5 million in LIS funding.

I have discussed this issue with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who has responsibility for this. He has confirmed that during the course of the year, spending trends across the Department will be monitored and that it will look to reallocate any savings which may arise to schemes such as the local improvement scheme. I am hoping that there may progress on that throughout the course of the year whereby if we see that there is an underspend in one area, we can reallocate the money to an area like County Offaly where there is acute demand. I will keep in touch with the Deputy on this.