Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
714. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide extra funding for local improvement schemes to Sligo County Council and Leitrim County Council as the current scheme has been incorporated into the overall road improvements allocations and as such moneys are not reaching many rural roads in this Deputy's constituency in need of improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13072/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Local Improvement Scheme is to provide funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge; that is, private roads and laneways. However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. At present, local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial Discretionary Grant towards Local Improvement Schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes is 20% of the total cost of the project. Furthermore, it is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of their Discretionary Grant that they can use for the LIS with their own resources. Some local authorities want a ring-fenced LIS allocation for private roads while others prefer to put the funding into public roads. I think this decision is best made at a local level.
