€10m for Local Improvement Scheme is 'a lifeline for rural communities' – Minister Ring
- Published on: 22 February 2018
- Last updated on: 7 December 2018
LIS supports improvement of non-public rural roads that access homes and farms.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, has approved €10 million for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) to support the improvement of non-public rural roads such as the lanes and boreens that enable people to access their homes and farms. These roads are not under the normal maintenance of the local authorities but are a vital artery for people living in rural areas.
Minister Ring said:
“This scheme is a lifeline for people living in rural areas because it directly improves their access to and from their homes and farms. It’s important to remember that many people living in rural areas use these roads on every journey they take, so when these roads fall into disrepair, it has a significant impact on them. By investing in the improvement of these roads we are helping to improve people’s quality of life in rural areas.
“My department will be in contact with local authorities in the coming days and I would encourage each local authority to carefully compile a list of suitable roads for submission to the department. The lists should be based on their indicative funding allocation and their capacity to undertake and complete the works before the end of July 2018.
“The upkeep of these roads is a priority for people who live in rural Ireland and this funding, in conjunction with the local community’s own resources and the resources of the local authorities, will allow for the maintenance and improvement of many local roads in rural areas.
“In 2017, I allocated an initial €10 million to participating local authorities and was able to allocate a further €7.4 million to the scheme before the end of last year. The scheme was a great success and I received an unprecedented amount of positive feedback in relation to it. There was no dedicated funding for the LIS for a number of years, so there is significant built-up demand for investment in these roads.
“I cannot overstate how important local connectivity is in order to enable rural Ireland to function well. The Action Plan for Rural Development prioritises improving rural infrastructure and connectivity and continuing to support an LIS scheme is just one of the measures we are taking in that regard.
“On that note, I am delighted to see that in the recently announced National Development Plan as part of Project Ireland 2040, €4.5 billion has been allocated for the maintenance and improvement of local and regional roads.
“Project Ireland 2040 also contains €1 billion extra funding for investment in rural communities through the Department of Rural and Community Development. This Rural Regeneration Fund will lead to significant investment in rural towns, villages and rural areas, meaning greater connectivity and enhanced amenities for rural communities.”
See list of indicative allocations on a county-by-county basis:
LIS 2018: Indicative county allocations
| County | Area (km²) | Allocation |
| Carlow | 896 | € 250,000 |
| Cavan | 1,931 | € 295,000 |
| Clare | 3,147 | € 482,000 |
| Cork | 7,457 | € 1,000,000 |
| Donegal | 4,841 | € 884,000 |
| Galway | 6,148 | € 942,000 |
| Kerry | 4,746 | € 727,000 |
| Kildare | 1,695 | € 250,000 |
| Kilkenny | 2,061 | € 315,000 |
| Laois | 1,719 | € 264,000 |
| Leitrim | 1,588 | € 250,000 |
| Limerick | 2,686 | € 411,000 |
| Longford | 1,091 | € 250,000 |
| Louth | 820 | € 250,000 |
| Mayo | 5,585 | € 855,000 |
| Meath | 2,342 | € 359,000 |
| Monaghan | 1,294 | € 250,000 |
| Offaly | 2,000 | € 290,765 |
| Roscommon | 2,547 | € 370,290 |
| Sligo | 1,836 | € 282,000 |
| Tipperary | 4,303 | € 625,582 |
| Waterford | 1,837 | € 282,000 |
| Westmeath | 1,838 | € 282,000 |
| Wexford | 2,352 | € 360,000 |
| Wicklow | 2,024 | € 310,000 |
| Total | 68,784 | € 10,836,637 |
Allocations are subject to a minimum amount of €250,000 and a maximum amount of €1,000,000.
ENDS