€304k for upgrade works on rural roads and laneways in Louth

Louth has been allocated funding of €304,736 for this year, for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways in the county.

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 the local authorities, and is part of a €12.55 million package for the scheme nationwide.

The funding is seen by the government as key to supporting vital road infrastructure in rural communities, as well as providing access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers and beaches.

Eligible roads under the Local Improvement Scheme are:

• non-public roads that provide access to parcels of agricultural land, or provide access for 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, and so on

Non-eligible roads include:

• roads serving only houses or buildings occupied or used by persons not engaged in agriculture, and
• roads leading to commercial enterprises

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.

Making the announcement today, Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce €12.55 million in funding to improve hundreds of roads and laneways in towns and villages across Rural Ireland.

"Local connectivity is absolutely vital for our rural communities and this investment will benefit the lives of families in every single county. We all know parts of rural Ireland that can be difficult to access because the road or laneway is in need of repair.

"The Local Improvement Scheme is about making people’s lives that bit easier, ensuring we have good access to homes, farms and our local amenities. This is what ‘Our Rural Future’ is all about – ensuring more and more people can live work and raise a family in rural communities throughout Ireland.”

The Minister added, “Since this scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over 3,700 roads have been funded for repair works. This has made a real difference to the lives of over 16,000 landowners and residents. I would urge each local authority to use the funding announced today and complete the repair works on the selected roads as soon as possible.”