€2.6 million LIS allocation to upgrade rural roads in Mayo
THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced a record funding allocation of €40 million for repairs and improvement works on non-public rural roads and laneways under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).
The allocation for County Mayo is €2,554,159, with a further €100,000 for island roads.
The allocation is for works to be carried out across 2024 and 2025 on roads not normally maintained by local authorities.
Minister Humphreys also announced a change to LIS criteria so that only one herd number will be required for a valid LIS application. Up to now, two herd numbers were required to be using the lane.
Minister of State Alan Dillon said: “This allocation of €2,654,159 for Mayo is a game-changer for our rural communities, which includes €100,000 for our islands. It signifies a profound commitment to enhancing road access to homes and farms, which is fundamental for the daily lives of our residents.
“The scheme, particularly beneficial to our rural and agricultural communities, ensures that everyone in Mayo can access their properties on well-maintained roads."
His Fine Gael colleague Deputy Michael Ring joined him in welcoming the adjustment to the scheme criteria, where now only one herd number is required for a valid application, a change from the previous requirement of two.
Said Deputy Ring: “This adjustment will substantially increase the number of eligible families and farms, facilitating broader access to this crucial funding. This responsive adjustment, made after listening to feedback from us, the local representatives, reflects Fine Gael's adaptive approach to meeting rural development needs.”
The extension allowing local authorities to utilise their funding allocation across both 2024 and 2025 provides the necessary flexibility to schedule works during favourable weather conditions, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in improving our rural infrastructure.
Minister Dillon encouraged all eligible residents in Mayo to engage with their local authority to benefit from this opportunity.
“This investment not only supports our current needs but also lays down a robust foundation for the future prosperity and accessibility of Mayo,” he said.