Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 February 2018
55. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the LIS scheme 2018; the allocations to date, by county; his further plans for the scheme into the future in view of demand; if the provision of funding towards maintenance of LIS roads will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8505/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
There has been very little funding available for this scheme in recent years due to constraints on public expenditure. 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 funding allocated through the LIS scheme is to support improvement works, and is based on previous guidelines governing the LIS, and in particular, the Local Improvement Scheme Memorandum 2002, issued by the then Department of the Environment and Local Government.
I have no plans at present to offer funding for the maintenance of LIS roads other than for improvement works as outlined in the 2002 memo.
It is clear that there is a continuing demand for LIS funding in rural communities across Ireland, and I have therefore secured an allocation of €10 million for the scheme in my Department's Estimate for 2018. I intend to announce details of the scheme, including county allocations, later this month.
