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Over €1m Allocated For Improvements To Non-Public Midlands Roads

Tuesday, 5 April 2022 10:49

It'll go towards improving access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities.

The midlands is receiving €1,90,960 for repairs and improvement works to rural roads and laneways.

The government's Local Improvement Scheme offers funding for non-public roads not normally maintained by the local authorities.

The beneficiaries are selected by the local authority, in consultation with residents and landowners who will also be asked to make a financial contribution towards the works. The fund will also be complemented by local authority resources. 

There will be a cap of €1,200 on the amount that any individual householder or landowner will be asked to contribute towards the cost of repairs to their road.

Westmeath is receiving €358,320, Laois is being allocated €351,880, while €380,760 is going to Offaly.

That's a total increase of €245,656 on last year's allocation to the region.

Speaking as she announced the allocation today, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said;

"Local connectivity is vital for rural communities. Our Rural Future clearly recognises this. The Local Improvement Scheme is an important source of funding for small non-public roads and laneways leading to homes and farms or to amenities such as lakes, rivers and beaches.

"Since the scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over, 3,000 roads have been funded for repair works. This has made a real difference to the lives of over 13,000 landowners and residents in rural Ireland."

Minister Humphreys continued;

"I acknowledge that strong demand for this funding remains across the country. In some counties, local authorities have significant levels of applications on hand. My priority is to continue to fund the works on roads leading to agricultural holdings given their importance for farm families and our agriculture sector.

"I would urge each local authority to utilise the funding announced today, and complete the repair works on the selected roads as soon as possible."

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, etc.

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 5 households/landowners, and

- 15% for those roads with 6 or more households/landowners.

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

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