€17.55m announced for 2026 rural road and laneways scheme
A total of €17.55 million has today (Wednesday, February 25) been allocated for upgrades to rural roads and laneways under the 2026 Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).
The LIS is designed to support the improvement of non-public roads in rural communities and improve access to rural homes and farms, as well as outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers, mountains and beaches.
This announcement brings the total to over €201 million provided to local authorities under the scheme since it was re-introduced in 2017.
Opening the scheme for 2026, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary said: “I am delighted to announce funding today of €17.55 million for the Local Improvement Scheme which is an increase of €2 million which I secured in Budget 2026.
“This includes over €500,000 ringfenced to be spent specifically on LIS eligible roads on our offshore islands.
“This scheme will improve hundreds of rural roads and laneways across the country and is a vital source of funding for non-public roads not normally maintained by local authorities.”
He added: “It’s a fantastic scheme under which the homeowners and farmers who use the lane make a small local contribution and the government provides the balance of funding to ensure that people can continue to access their homes and farms on good quality surfaces.”
Local authorities are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works under the scheme in consultation with residents/landowners.
Rural homeowners and farmers
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Jerry Buttimer also welcomed the allocation of the funding under the LIS.
“I see the benefits provided to rural homeowners and farmers through this funding, through which local authorities carry out improvement works on rural lanes and non-public roads.
“I am particularly pleased to see the additional €2 million funding provided for the scheme this year," he said.
The breakdown of allocations by county is as follows:
| County | LIS 2026 Allocation | LIS Islands Funding | Total Allocation |
| Carlow | €374,850 | €374,850 | |
| Cavan | €527,400 | €527,400 | |
| Clare | €941,790 | €941,790 | |
| Cork | €1,206,620 | €140,000 | €1,346,620 |
| Donegal | €1,134,690 | €100,000 | €1,234,690 |
| Galway | €1,170,380 | €250,000 | €1,420,380 |
| Kerry | €1,133,190 | €1,133,190 | |
| Kildare | €350,000 | €350,000 | |
| Kilkenny | €565,890 | €565,890 | |
| Laois | €469,530 | €469,530 | |
| Leitrim | €434,040 | €434,040 | |
| Limerick | €752,340 | €752,340 | |
| Longford | €380,230 | €380,230 | |
| Louth | €372,890 | €372,890 | |
| Mayo | €1,154,780 | €50,000 | €1,204,780 |
| Meath | €573,970 | €573,970 | |
| Monaghan | €385,880 | €385,880 | |
| Offaly | €546,240 | €546,240 | |
| Roscommon | €695,560 | €695,560 | |
| Sligo | €501,740 | €10,000 | €511,740 |
| Tipperary | €1,119,280 | €1,119,280 | |
| Waterford | €506,930 | €506,930 | |
| Westmeath | €502,290 | €502,290 | |
| Wexford | €646,150 | €646,150 | |
| Wicklow | €553,340 | €553,340 | |
| TOTAL | €17,000,000 | €550,000 | €17,550,000 |
Minister Calleary added: “I am aware that Local Authorities need to carry out LIS works when weather conditions are favourable.
"In recognition of this, and to help local authorities better plan their work programmes, I am launching the scheme in February to ensure as many eligible roads as possible can be completed this year.”
