My understanding is no recent requests has been received from the Department of Rural and Community Development regarding financial contributions towards the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) programme.
The Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the LIS, allowing funding to be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads which meet certain criteria. It is important to highlight that the maintenance of non-public roads is the responsibility of the relevant landowners; local authorities only have statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of public roads (in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993). Works on these public roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road Grants.
My department has not provided dedicated funding towards the LIS programme since 2012. Between 2013 to 2017, local authorities were permitted discretion to use a proportion of their Discretionary Road Grant for the LIS programme if they chose to do so. In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community Development reintroduced a dedicated funding stream for the LIS. Considering the significant funding support being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the need to direct limited resources into maintaining and renewing public roads, it was decided that Discretionary Grants would no longer support LIS programmes. This remains the position. Maintenance and improvement of public roads is essential to ensure a safe network with a high level of service and social/economic connectivity.
In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding my department’s capital budget, €30 million would represent c.1.14% of the overall capital budget in 2023. As the Deputy is aware this capital budget funds an array of projects across the country in the areas of active travel, public transport, roads, aviation, maritime, climate change etc.
