An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, and Minister of State for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD have today launched a €10 million programme to support the improvement of non-public rural roads in 2017.

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improvement works on private/non-public roads. Often these roads lead to multiple residences, parcels of land that support agricultural activity or amenities such as lakes, rivers or the ocean. The Department of Rural and Community Development will provide up to 90% of the funding through the Local Authorities, with the remaining contribution coming from local residents, or Local Authorities in the case of roads leading to public amenities.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at the National Ploughing Championships, the Taoiseach said: “I’m delighted that Minister Ring has launched a new round of the Local Improvement Scheme. It’s a really effective scheme to improve small roads, laneways and boreens which don’t come under the control of local authorities. These roads give access to homes, farmyards, agricultural land and business premises, and are often heavily used, but because they fall outside of direct local authority control, many need upgrading.

“It’s only right and fair that some of the motor tax, excise duty on fuel and local property tax paid by people in rural areas is invested in the repair of shared laneways that connect their homes, farms and businesses to the public road network. I pressed for its inclusion in the current Programme for a Partnership Government. So I commend Minister Ring for re-launching the scheme so soon after his appointment. It will be funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and delivered through local authorities.”

Minister Ring said: “The Local Improvement Scheme is about improving small roads and laneways in rural Ireland which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. For people who live in rural areas, road connectivity is hugely important. The Action Plan for Rural Development prioritises improving rural infrastructure and connectivity. Creating an LIS scheme is just one of the measures we are taking to improve that connectivity.

“I urge the Local Authorities to implement this programme and spend this money without delay. The upkeep of these roads is of a priority for people who live in rural Ireland. We haven’t been in a position to adequately fund the LIS scheme for the last number of years, but we made a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that we would reinstate the scheme. I am delighted therefore to be in a positon to honour that commitment by allocating these funds.”

Minister Moran said; “The re-launch of the Local Improvement Scheme is an important step in the Government’s drive to support rural Ireland. I know how important this scheme is for people who live in rural areas – and often in very remote rural areas. 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 all over the country.”