Some €25 million has been allocated to local authorities throughout the State in a scheme to help improve non-public roads, especially in rural areas.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Batt O'Keeffe announced details of the local improvements scheme grants today in Co Cork.
The scheme will help to upgrade so-called 'non-public' roads, which include roads that may be on shared agricultural land or those leading to rivers or lakes in rural areas.
"The 2006 allocation of €25 million, which is double last year's allocation of €12.5 million, is the highest ever level of State funding for the Local Improvements Scheme".
Mr O'Keeffe said the grant also represented an increase of more than eight times the 1994 allocation of €3.1 million and almost seven times the 1997 allocation of €3.8 million.
"This year's record Local Improvements Scheme allocation will enable local authorities to make very significant progress under the scheme this year."
Mr O'Keeffe added: "I am delighted to say that in 2005, there were 4,145 beneficiaries under the Local Improvements Scheme. The LIS is of great assistance to rural communities around the country in terms of improvements to non-public roads and providing improved access for people in isolated and depopulated areas."