Significant extra funding for Wicklow roadworks secured

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Wicklow County Council is to receive a further €276,387 investment to maintain rural roads and laneways across the county.

The allocation represents a significant increase to the 2025 funding available under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) – bringing the overall investment to €817,793 for Wicklow for the year.

Under the LIS, local authorities are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works under the scheme, in consultation with residents/landowners.

The scheme is designed to support the improvement of non-public roads in rural communities and access to rural homes and farms, as well as outdoor amenities.

The works must be completed before the end of the year.

Across the country there is an additional €14 million for the scheme, bringing the total to €30 million available to local authorities this year.

This represents the highest annual funding level since the scheme was re-introduced.

Under this scheme Wicklow County Council are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works in consultation with residents and landowners, and the work must be completed by the end of the year.

Welcoming the announcement, Wicklow-Wexford Deputy Brian Brennan said the funding allocation will be crucial.

“This additional funding demonstrates our commitment to improving connectivity for rural residents – whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.”

“I spend a lot of time on the road in rural areas in south Wicklow, meeting with constituents, communities, organisations, clubs and businesses and I know that investment in our rural road network is critical to ensuring that the people of rural Ireland have the connectivity, access and quality of life that they deserve.

Meanwhile Wicklow TD Edward Timmins pointed out the roads that are subject to the funding.

“Eligible roads include non- public roads providing access to parcels of land where two or more are owned or occupied by different people, one of which must be for agricultural purposes, and non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, and mountains.”

“I look forward to seeing how this additional funding is used to improve our rural roads across Wicklow”. Deputy Timmins concluded.