Vol. 407 No. 7
82 Mr. Power asked the Minister for the Environment if he will permit local authorities to retain the amount of their local improvement scheme allocation which is not taken up in any particular year and utilise it for the repair of roads especially in areas designated as being disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Local improvement scheme grants may only be used for projects which qualify for funding under the terms of the scheme, viz., projects in rural areas involving the improvement of non-public roads, including farm roads, bog roads and minor land drainage works.
Local authorities are advised that, when drawing up their list of proposed works for the year, care should be taken to ensure as far as possible that only works intended to be carried out and paid for within the year are included. If it transpires that the full amount allocated is not required in the year, the authority is consulted and any savings are real-located to other local authorities which require additional funding for their local improvement schemes and can spend the money involved in the year.
I am satisfied at this stage that there are enough schemes requiring funding under the local improvement scheme to absorb the £4 million allocated to this programme in 1991 and that the transfer of surplus funding in any local authority to other categories of road works would not be appropriate.
