4127. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to the local improvement scheme in each of the years 2025 to 2026; the proposed allocation for 2027, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59735/26]

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways, which are usually not maintained by local authorities. Reintroduced by my Department in 2017, the scheme provides capital funding as part of the Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. The scheme has allocated over €200 million to local authorities for improvement works.

Since 2017 Kerry County Council has been allocated almost €12.7 million in LIS funding. While the Department provides funding for the scheme, local authorities manage it and are responsible for selecting and prioritising roads. This includes processing applications, prioritising eligible roads, scheduling works, and maintaining waiting lists.

The attached tabular statement provides details of LIS funding allocated to each local authority from 2025 to 2026. Since 2023, the Local Improvement Scheme has included a ringfenced allocation for counties with inhabited offshore islands (Cork, Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo). This allocation is included in the total expenditure figures for these counties.

Funding for the 2027 Local Improvement Scheme will be finalised as part of the government's Budget 2027 negotiations. Local authorities will be advised of their 2027 allocations in Quarter 1 of 2027.

Breakdown of funding 2025-2026