Rural Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2022

Wednesday, 15 June 2022

Ceisteanna (243)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

243. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason that a local authority (details supplied) provided for not drawing down the full allocation of local improvement scheme funding in respect of 2021; the roads that were earmarked for this funding which subsequently were not improved in 2021; the percentage of the overall national amount of undrawn local improvement scheme funding in 2021 that was attributable to the local authority; if this will negatively impact on future funding requests for local improvement scheme roads by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31160/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities.  As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Scheme is funded into the future. From 2017 to 2021, my Department allocated €80 million towards improvement works on over 3,000 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 13,300 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

In 2021, I allocated €1.187 million to the Local Authority in question in respect of road improvement works under the Local Improvement Scheme. 18 roads were submitted under the Scheme, all of which were upgraded last year. 215 rural landowners and residents along these laneways have benefitted.  I understand that savings amounting to €41,225 accrued as a number of roads came in under budget. This represented a c.3.5% underspend on the county allocation and c.0.2% on the overall national allocation.

To date in 2022, €704,030 has been allocated to the Local Authority in question. Last year, I was in a position to double the initial LIS allocation to €21 million following the identification of savings in other capital areas. This year, I am continuing to closely monitor expenditure patterns. Should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme.