Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1402. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will make additional allocations within this budgetary year towards local improvement schemes to deal with the huge backlog of applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20803/23]
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 in February 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.
I will continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns this year in my Department and should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme as was seen in 2021 and 2022. Indeed, I have recently asked all local authorities to inform my Department as to how many more projects they could deliver this year, should any such funding become available.
Conscious of the level of interest in the scheme, I have corresponded with the Department of Transport and continue to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, regarding the potential for his Department to contribute jointly to the funding of the Local Improvement Scheme which would demonstrate a strong and coherent commitment across Government to supporting rural dwellers.
