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Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2018

Thursday, 14 June 2018

Questions (18)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

18. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated under the local improvement scheme in 2018, both nationally and in County Louth; if there will be an additional round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25856/18]

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Written answers

I am very pleased to see the strong level of interest in the Local Improvement Scheme since I re-launched the scheme last September.  For many years, there was no dedicated funding for LIS, due to the constraints on the public finances.  However, the level of interest in this House, at County Council level, and from residents who live on LIS roads, shows the underlying need for the programme in rural areas where people need good access to houses, farmlands and amenities.

In September 2017, following a number of years with no dedicated funding for LIS, I approved €10 million for the scheme nationally. I allocated a further €7.4 million to the scheme from savings elsewhere in my Department's Vote at the end of November 2017. The total amount allocated to the scheme in 2017 was €17.4 million, which included an allocation of €250,000 for County Louth.

Following on from the successful re-launch of the scheme in 2017, I announced details of the 2018 Local Improvement Scheme on 27th February last. I have allocated an initial amount of €10.8 million to County Councils across the country this year under the scheme. The 2018 funding includes an allocation to Louth County Council of €250,000.

It is a matter for each County Council to decide which roads to prioritise for works from the funding allocated to them under LIS, and to ensure that all roads meet with the scheme criteria.  A local contribution is also made towards the cost of the improvement works.

Detailed information regarding the 2018 roads selected by the Louth County Council for improvement works can be found on the Rural Development pages of my Department’s website.

As part of the 2018 LIS scheme, I also requested each County Council to compile a secondary list of suitable LIS road projects which they could complete if additional funding becomes available for the scheme later in the year.  I will be monitoring the situation in the context of my Department's overall expenditure performance over the coming months.

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