Over €500k in additional funding announced for rural roads and laneways in Waterford

An additional €548,508 has been allocated for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways in Waterford, it was announced today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD.

The funding, under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), is the second tranche of funding through the LIS this year. Along with the €269,063 announced for Louth in the first round of LIS funding announced earlier this year, today's allocation brings the total to €817,571 for 2023.

It is part of an almost €16 million package announced for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways across the country. The additional funding is aimed at supporting the continued improvement of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by local authorities and the Department of Rural and Community Development says it will allow local authorities to address the backlog of applications that they currently face.

Making the announcement today 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. We are all familiar with the roads and laneways within our own communities that are full of potholes and in desperate need of repair.

"The funding being delivered under this scheme will help address this – benefitting so many of our families, businesses and in particular our farmers.

“As someone who grew up on a farm myself, I know all too well what it is like when a milk truck cannot gain access to collect the milk. I know too how poor quality roads in rural Ireland can negatively impact on families and businesses."

Welcoming today's funding announcement, Waterford based Senator John Cummins, said: “I welcome the funding of €548,508 allocated to Waterford under the local improvement scheme. This is on top of the €269,063 that was allocated to Waterford in the first round of funding that was announced earlier this year.

“This money can be used for non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by Waterford Council, but are critical for rural residents - providing access to homes, farms and businesses, as well as outdoor amenities.

“Eligible roads under the scheme include 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. Also included are non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers and mountains. 

“I would also appeal to Waterford Council to utilise the funding to address any backlog of applications that they currently have. The overall funding is more than double the allocation provided last year,” Senator John Cummins said.

Since the Local Improvement Scheme was re-introduced in 2017, almost 4,000 roads nationally have been funded for repair works.