Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2015
203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further consideration will be given to the request by Cavan County Council to have the local improvement scheme re-instated in view of the importance of this particular scheme to rural communities and the need to bring laneways up to an acceptable standard to provide access to persons homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/15]
View answerAs outlined to the Deputy in my reply of 5 February 2015 to PQ 5272/15, the Local Improvement Scheme remains in place and it has not been abolished. The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge; that is, private roads. However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.
At present, local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial Discretionary Grant (€282,972 in the case of Cavan County Council) towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes is 20% of the total cost of the project. Furthermore, it is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of their Discretionary Grant that they can use for the LIS with their own resources.
Some local authorities want a ring-fenced LIS allocation for private roads while others prefer to put the funding into public roads. My view continues to be that this decision is best made at a local level.
