Pat Deering
Ceist:35. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to announce a new local improvement scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8514/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 21 February 2018
Ceisteanna (35)
Freagraí ó Béal (10 píosaí cainte)
When does the Minister intend to introduce a new local improvement scheme for this year? He knows that last year, up to €17 million was allocated for what is one of the most important schemes in rural Ireland. We regularly hear about the demise of rural Ireland but the local improvement scheme is one of the most important initiatives that have been resurrected in the past number of years.
I thank the Deputy for his question. The local improvement scheme, LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private and non-public roads and it has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Funding for the LIS was limited in recent years due to constraints on the public finances. However, I was very conscious of the underlying demand for the scheme in rural areas throughout the country. I therefore announced the provision of €10 million to local authorities for a local improvement scheme last September. Based on demand and the capacity of local authorities to complete works before the end of 2017, I allocated an additional €7.4 million to local authorities for LIS roads at the end of November. The LIS provided much-needed support in rural areas in 2017 and I have allocated a further €10 million for the scheme this year. I intend to announce details of the scheme, including the allocations for each county, later this month.
I thank the Minister for the answer and welcome his indication that he will announce the allocation for this year later this month. I have a minor criticism, which is that last year, he announced the allocations in September and December, which is very late in the year to get work done. There is bad weather etc. so councils are rushing to get work done at the end of the year. It is welcome that this year's allocation will be announced earlier.
This scheme should not be underestimated, as it provides valuable access for people in rural areas who cannot get to a main road. Generally speaking, the local authority would not be in a position to fund repairs to such roads. I found myself on a lane in the past number of days that had approximately ten people living on it. An old person lives at the very end of the lane but the local doctor and public health nurse have not been in a position to visit the person at the end of the lane, who was sick, because the surface is so bad. I hope there will be an opportunity for the scheme to fix such examples this year. Will there be different criteria for allocations this year?
I also welcome the injection of capital into our country roads and laneways. Throughout County Clare, we benefitted by approximately €867,000 last year and I welcome the confirmation that a new €10 million fund will be announced this year. A number of constituents who have benefitted from the LIS have said to me that some roads are falling into a state of disrepair because they are ten or 15 years old. Will the Minister consider putting aside funding to carry out repair works on roads that may be five years old? Those roads could be upgraded and the term "a stitch in time saves nine" comes to mind.
I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. As I stated, this was under the Departments responsible for transport and the environment previously. I can see all the rural Deputies in the House and this is a very important scheme for rural Ireland. I looked at it because I want to do something and I come from a rural county. I listen to people on a daily basis. The Deputies made their points and people in these areas pay water charges, motor and property tax. They should be entitled to get some work done on their roads and that is why I set up the scheme.
Deputy Deering made a valid point with which I agree. I opened the scheme last year and it was late but that is why I intend to announce the scheme in the next few weeks. I will ask the local authorities to have the money spent by the end of or into August. If I have any further funding, I will tell local authorities to be ready for a further scheme at the end of the year.
It is very welcome that the scheme will be announced early in the year. One big problem for local authorities in the past was they were unsure whether funding would be available. Having a funding stream on a continuous basis is very welcome. The authorities will be able to plan for the future and in Carlow's case, there has been a programme in place for a number of years. From four years onwards, it should be able to complete the lanes in the process. Will some of this funding be used in smaller villages or small housing estates that may fall into disrepair?
The Minister might give clarity on the establishment of a fund for LIS roads that fall into disrepair. These roads could be 15 or 20 years old and there is no access to county council funds to repair them. If a fund was created, local groups could apply to it and carry out repair works. I urge the Minister to give that consideration.
I would not like the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to fall out with me. I would like him to do his job with the rural roads. He has made an allocation for roads this year and it has been increased.
I specifically refer to LIS roads.
I have dealt with LIS roads and provided funding. There was €17.4 million expended last year and €10 million will be allocated this year. The Deputy has made the correct point that the scheme will be open and local authorities know it will be there for the next number of years. With the increasing budgets over the next number of years, I will be able to put further allocations into LIS. The Deputy is quite correct and it is a very important scheme. Deputy Deering asked about rules and they will be the same as last year. I reduced the local contribution from 20% to 15% where a road has five or more houses and it is 10% for roads with five or fewer people. Along with people getting money for roads, they also make a contribution, so I do not want people to think the scheme is for nothing.