Over €1.25 million extra funding announced for local Donegal roads and laneways
Pat The Cope Gallagher TD welcomed announcement but called for easing eligibility criteria
Donegal County Council has been allocated an additional €1,268.698 in funding for local roads and laneways in 2025 as part of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS)
The funding was announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, as part of a €14 million package nationwide.
Donegal’s funding is in addition to the already allocated €1,123.449, bringing the total for Donegal in 2025 to €2,392,177. That total funding is the highest allocation for any county in the country.
The LIS is designed to support the continued 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.
Donegal TD, Pat The Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fáil), welcomed the funding. He said: “This additional funding is very welcome and will make a real difference to many rural families and communities across Donegal.
“However, it is important to clarify that these grants apply only to accommodation roads and not to public country roads that also need urgent investment.”
While welcoming the increased allocation, Deputy Gallagher also expressed concern about the restrictive eligibility criteria under the current LIS rules.
He commented: “At present, applicants must meet narrow requirements, for example, having an active herd number. This excludes many rural dwellers who rely on these roads but are not engaged in farming.
“I have asked the Minister to review these conditions as part of the preparations for the 2026 scheme, with a view to widening eligibility and ensuring more residents can benefit.”