€1.9m for Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon lanes

“The LIS scheme is one of the most sought-after grant schemes in Co Leitrim in the last few years and the allocation today of €831,183 for the county is the good news we were waiting for,” declared Ballinamore MA Cllr Enda McGloin.

He was speaking after Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, this week announced additional funding of almost €16 million for repairs and improvement works on our rural roads and laneways with Leitrim set to receive a further €831,183 which adds to the already allocated €304,736 giving a total allocation for 2023 for the county of €1,135,939.The funding is more than double the allocation provided last year and will allow local authorities to address the backlog of applications that they currently face.
“Last April the Leitrim Co Council received an allocation of €304,736 bringing the total allocation for 2023 to €1,135,919, which will deliver a full programme of delivery for this calendar year,” Cllr McGloin added.

Today’s announcement means that almost €30 million has been allocated under the Local Improvement Scheme this year alone.
And almost €130 million has been invested through LIS since the scheme was re-introduced in 2017. “I wish to acknowledge the role of our local TD Frank Feighan who I know lobbied Minister Humphreys to maximise the allocation for Leitrim which has over 150 new applications since the local authority re-opened the scheme late last year”
“In conclusion, I wish to thank Heather Humphreys who, as Minister for Community and Rural development, is the only source of funding for LIS schemes which was formerly funded by the Transport department. The Minister recognises the importance of the LIS schemes for the betterment of rural and farming communities,” concluded Cllr Mc Gloin.

The funding, under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), will support the continued improvement of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by local authorities.

The funding is more than double the allocation provided last year and will allow local authorities to address the backlog of applications that they currently face and means that almost €30 million has been allocated under the Local Improvement Scheme this year alone.

Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said: “I’m very pleased today to announce a further €16 million in funding to repair and upgrade hundreds of rural roads and laneways in towns and villages right across Rural Ireland.

“Good roads are absolutely vital for our rural communities and this record investment under the Local Improvement Scheme will make a huge difference in terms of access and connectivity.

“This funding is all about making peoples’ lives that bit easier and ensuring we have good access to homes, farms, businesses and local amenities."