Kildare Gets Smallest Cut Of Funding To Upgrade Non-Public Rural Roads And Farm Access Routes

Wednesday, 25 February 2026 10:37

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

The scheme is designed to pay for repairs and upgrades to non-public rural roads and laneways - typically narrow access routes serving homes and farms that are not normally maintained by local authorities.

Kildare has received the lowest allocation in the country under this year’s Local Improvement Scheme.

The county will get €350,000 from the €17.55 million national fund announced today by Minister Dara Calleary.

Under the model, local residents or landowners make a contribution, with the Government covering the bulk of the cost.

Councils then identify and prioritise which roads are improved.

Nationally, the Government says the funding - boosted by €2 million in Budget 2026 - will help improve hundreds of rural lanes and maintain access to properties in isolated areas.

However, Kildare’s allocation of €350,000 is the smallest share of any county.

Counties with smaller populations, including Carlow and Louth, were allocated more funding than Kildare.

County	LIS 2026 Allocation	LIS Islands Funding	Total Allocation
Carlow	€374,850		€374,850
Cavan	€527,400		€527,400
Clare	€941,790		€941,790
Cork	€1,206,620	€140,000	€1,346,620
Donegal	€1,134,690	€100,000	€1,234,690
Galway	€1,170,380	€250,000	€1,420,380
Kerry	€1,133,190		€1,133,190
Kildare	€350,000		€350,000
Kilkenny	€565,890		€565,890
Laois	€469,530		€469,530
Leitrim	€434,040		€434,040
Limerick	€752,340		€752,340
Longford	€380,230		€380,230
Louth	€372,890		€372,890
Mayo	€1,154,780	€50,000	€1,204,780
Meath	€573,970		€573,970
Monaghan	€385,880		€385,880
Offaly	€546,240		€546,240
Roscommon	€695,560		€695,560
Sligo	€501,740	€10,000	€511,740
Tipperary	€1,119,280		€1,119,280
Waterford	€506,930		€506,930
Westmeath	€502,290		€502,290
Wexford	€646,150		€646,150
Wicklow	€553,340		€553,340
TOTAL	€17,000,000	€550,000	€17,550,000

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