asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposed to change the system of allocating funds under the local improvement scheme to take into account the backlog of applications and the particular needs of various counties.
Written Answers. - Local Improvement Scheme.
27.
The backlog of applications held by local authorities for grant assistance under this scheme is not a satisfactory criterion on which to base the distribution of the State funds available for the scheme, because the authorities have discretion as to the manner of acceptance of applications. Allocations to the authorities are generally decided on the basis of a broad assessment of needs and of the extent of dependence on the scheme over the years. I do not propose to change this system.