Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2018
34. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the impact of the local improvement scheme since its re-introduction in 2017; and the way in which roads were selected at local level under the scheme. [25805/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for the repair of private roads which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. I reintroduced dedicated funding for the scheme in September 2017 after a gap of 8 years. The scheme had previously been funded by the former Department of the Environment and Local Government, and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Investing in the repair of these roads is helping to improve the quality of life for many people in rural areas. The scheme improves access to and from many family homes and farms for people who use these roads on a daily basis.
If repair works on these roads are not carried out when they fall into disrepair, there are also implications for the provision of services in rural areas, including emergency and social care services who can struggle to access people and property.
In 2017, I allocated total of €17.4 million to participating County Councils under the LIS scheme. This enabled over 700 roads to be upgraded in some of the most rural parts of the country. In 2018, I have approved funding of €10.8 million for works on over 450 roads selected by relevant County Councils.
It is the responsibility of each relevant County Council to select the road projects that will receive LIS funding in line with the scheme criteria and the Memorandum governing the scheme. Eligible roads are non-public roads, often leading to houses and important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountains, etc., or other non-public roads that provide access to parcels of land, or provide access for harvesting purposes for two or more persons. There must be more than one landholder on an LIS road and the road must be open to the public.
Details regarding the LIS roads selected for funding by County Councils under the scheme for 2018 are available on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie.
