Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1389. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to reintroducing the emergency hardship scheme, in view that it was a way that a local improvement scheme application could be prioritised if a resident on the road met certain medical conditions. [28562/23]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.
The Local Improvement Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. This has upgraded some 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this year with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 million for improvement works on our off shore Islands. This is the third consecutive year in which the basic allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme has been increased. I also announced the allocations for 2023 earlier than was the case in 2022 in order to give local authorities the most time possible to complete works on the ground.
The selection of roads for submission to my Department is exclusively a matter for the local authorities, in line with the Scheme Outline. Section 4 of the outline refers to the selection and prioritisation of projects by local authorities. In prioritising projects, the local authority should have regard to a number of factors including special circumstances such as hardship cases or access for elderly or disabled occupants.
The prioritisation of projects by the local authority is to be applied once the eligibility criteria has been satisfied as set out in section 3 of the Scheme Outline.
