Major funding boost as over €1m is secured to improve non-public roads in Waterford

A major funding boost to improve non-public roads across Waterford has been announced under the Local Improvement Scheme. 

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Dara Calleary has allocated an additional €535,098 in funding which will go to improving private roads with a focus on farms and rural homes in particular. 

Just over half a million euro (€502,162) had already been allocated to Waterford roads this year which means the total funding for 2025 is now €1,037,260. 

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Mr Calleary said: “We must continue to invest in our non-public roads across our country. Access to rural homes and farms, alongside the access to outdoor amenities here across both counties is crucial and this substantial funding will help enhance the accessibility to those amenities for locals and visitors alike.”

Local Improvement scheme funds are administered by county councils who hold responsibility for the selection and prioritisation of roads. Applications for the roads are received directly by local authorities, who engage with recipients of the scheme.

Roads eligible for the scheme include private roads providing access to parcels of land, and non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, and mountains.

The Local Improvement Scheme has reached over 20,000 landowners and rural people, with 48,00 roads upgraded across the country, according to government communications.