Kerry County Council is to receive over €1.1 million (€1,133,190) under this year’s Local Improvement Scheme.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, announced that the scheme will provide €17.55 million nationwide, up €2 million on last year.
This funding will be used to repair non-public rural roads and laneways which provide access to rural homes and farms and are not normally maintained by the local authority.
Local authorities are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works under the scheme, in consultation with residents and landowners.
Minister Norma Foley and Senator Mike Kennelly have welcomed the funding.
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae also welcomed the funding, but added that it was not nearly enough money "to deal with over 600 applications that have been waiting to be addressed for many years.”
TD Michael Cahill echoed this sentiment; but also praised the earlier-than-usual launch of the scheme, saying this will allow local authorities to undertake works during favourable weather conditions, so that as many projects as possible can be completed during 2026.
Minister of state Michael Healy-Rae also welcomed the funding but acknowledged that comparisons with last year’s figure may appear to show a significant reduction.
However, he said this is because the last government announced two years’ worth of funding at once ahead of the election.
Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae said this is a strong start for 2026, but that more is to come.
Over €201 million has been allocated to local authorities nationwide since the scheme was reintroduced in 2017.
This year’s €17.55 million includes €550,000 ring-fenced to upgrade eligible roads on offshore islands in Cork, Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo.
