€1.2m. for rural roads in Mayo

FUNDING of €1.2 million has been announced for local roads in Mayo.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has today announced the opening of the 2026 Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) which will provide €17.55 million for repairs and improvement works on non-public rural roads and laneways across the country.

The allocation for Mayo is €1,154,780, with an additional €50,000 for island roads, bringing the total investment up to €1,204,780.

Speaking as he announced the allocations, Minister Calleary said: “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.

“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.

He added: “I am aware that local authorities need to carry out LIS works when weather conditions are favourable and, 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.”

Also welcoming the funding, Minister of State Alan Dillon said: “This investment will make a real difference to families, farmers, and rural communities who rely on these roads every day.

"The inclusion of €50,000 specifically for island roads is particularly important, ensuring that our offshore communities are not left behind and can benefit from improved connectivity and safer access routes.

"This funding gives Mayo County Council the certainty it needs to progress priority LIS projects this year, improving quality of life and supporting rural living across the county.”