James Leonard
Ceist:78 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment if he will increase funding under the local improvement scheme for counties with a large backlog of applications. [19466/96]
Written Answers. - Local Improvement Scheme.
The 1996 provision of £3 million for this scheme represents an increase of £500,000, or 20 per cent on total 1994 payments. The administration of the scheme is devolved to county councils and details of waiting lists in individual counties are not available in my Department. The extent of such lists can be influenced by the different practices adopted in different areas and is not necessarily an objective measure of relative need. There are no additional funds available to me to increase the allocations already notified to county councils for 1996.