Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
713. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the work she has undertaken to increase the pace of the roll-out of local improvement scheme; if she has had discussions with each local authority on the matter; if so, when these discussions took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60242/21]
View answerAs part of 'Our Rural Future', the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. This reflects the important contribution which the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities and represents a vital piece of infrastructure for rural communities.
The scheme has been funded by my Department since 2017 and is administered by Local Authorities. Prior to 2017, the scheme was not funded for a number of years. Since the scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over 3,060 roads have been improved, with 660 of those funded this year. The total number of landowners and households along those roads who have benefited under the scheme since 2017 is now in excess of 13,300 with over 3,000 of those seeing improvements on their non public roads and lanes in 2021.
I launched the 2021 Scheme on 14th May with a budget of €10.5 million. I was very pleased to source additional funding for the Scheme during the year and to allocate a further round of funding on 29th July to bring the total level of funding to €21 million this year. Officials in my Department engaged with each of the Local Authorities to ascertain each authorities capacity to deliver additional projects in view of the increased allocation available.
I was pleased to be in a position to again announce an increase in the funding for LIS from €10.5 million to €11 million as part of Budget 2022 and my officials will be in contact with local authorities in preparation for next year's scheme.
