Niamh Smyth
Question:42. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the local improvement scheme to local authorities nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/19]
View answerWednesday, 23 January 2019
Questions (42)
Written answers
The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities.
I reintroduced the LIS in September 2017, after several years when no funding was ring-fenced for the scheme. I allocated a total of €17.4 million to Local Authorities for LIS roads in 2017.
In February 2018, I allocated €10.8 million to Local Authorities across the country under the 2018 LIS scheme. Given the continuing level of demand for this funding in rural communities across Ireland, I also asked the Local Authorities to prepare secondary lists of roads which they could complete if further funding became available for the scheme during the year.
Following on from this, on 26th October 2018, I was in a position to announce a further round of LIS funding of almost €10 million to the Local Authorities. The allocations on a county-by-county basis for both of these rounds of funding are available on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie.
It is clear that there remains a strong demand for LIS funding in rural communities across Ireland and I have secured a further allocation of €10 million for the scheme in my Department's 2019 Estimate. I anticipate that details of the 2019 LIS programme will be announced in the coming weeks.