€40 million LIS allocation to upgrade rural laneways announced

• Essential funding to improve road access to homes and farms in rural areas
• Highest ever allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS)
• Ring-fenced funding to upgrade eligible roads on our offshore islands
• Only one herd number now required for a valid application

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced a record funding allocation of €40 million for repairs and improvement works on non-public rural roads and laneways under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).

This investment demonstrates the continued commitment of the Minister to vital road infrastructure in rural Ireland, providing access to people’s homes and farms.

This announcement brings to a total of almost €170 million that has been allocated to local authorities under the Scheme since it was re-introduced in 2017. The allocation of funds is for works to be carried out across 2024 and 2025 on roads not normally maintained by the local authorities

Speaking as she announced the allocation today, Minister Humphreys said:

“I am delighted to announce record funding of €40 million for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), which will improve hundreds of rural roads and laneways across the country. LIS is a critical source of funding for small non-public roads not normally maintained by local authorities.

“It’s a fantastic scheme under which the homeowners and farmers who use the lane make a small local contribution and the Government provides the balance of funding to ensure that people can access their homes and farms on good quality surfaces.

Minister Humphreys continued:

“I am also amending the LIS criteria so that only one herd number will be required for a valid LIS application. Up to now, two herd numbers were required to be using the lane. I am making this change in response to feedback I have received from local representatives and it will ensure that more families can now qualify for the scheme.

“I am also aware that Local Authorities need to carry out LIS works when weather conditions are favorable. In recognition of this and in order to help local authorities better plan their work programmes, I am providing greater flexibility so that Local Authorities can use their allocation throughout 2024 and 2025.

The total allocations per local authority area are as follows:

• Local authorities will be contacted directly in relation to the details of the allocations

The total allocations per local authority area are as follows:

Notes:

Our Rural Future

Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It offers a blueprint for a thriving and inclusive rural Irelands and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.

Local Improvement Scheme (LIS)

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) was reintroduced in September 2017 and over €130 million has already been provided for works on over 4,000 roads. The additional funding announced today will bring that total to over €170 million.

Local authorities are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works under the scheme, in consultation with residents/landowners. The funding provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development will be complemented by a local financial contribution from landowners/householders, as well as local authority resources.

Eligible Roads

Eligible roads under the Local Improvement Scheme are:

• non-public roads that provide access to parcels of land of which at least 2 are owned or occupied by different persons, one of which must be for agricultural/harvesting purposes;
• provide access for agricultural / harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons.; or
• non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountains, etc.

Non Eligible Roads

Non-eligible roads include:

• roads leading to commercial enterprises

Local contribution

The financial contribution provided by the household/landowner is set at:

• 10% of the estimated cost for eligible roads with up to and including five households/landowners, and
• 15% for those roads with six or more households/landowners.

The maximum amount that any household/landowner is required to contribute is capped at €1,200.