Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2023
744. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a breakdown of the number of local improvement scheme applications waiting to be processed, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8538/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme, or 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 LIS is funded into the future.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million towards improvement works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 Million for improvement works on our offshore Islands.
The selection and prioritisation of eligible roads for approval is a matter for each relevant local authority to determine in line with parameters set out in the LIS Scheme Outline. The table below sets out the number of applications held by the relevant local authorities.
|
County |
Applications on hand |
|
Carlow |
48 |
|
Cavan |
199 |
|
Clare |
169 |
|
Cork |
153 |
|
Donegal |
1,453 |
|
Galway |
138 |
|
Kerry |
676 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
28 |
|
Laois |
43 |
|
Leitrim |
20 |
|
Limerick |
16 |
|
Longford |
37 |
|
Louth* |
10 |
|
Mayo |
157 |
|
Meath |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
79 |
|
Offaly |
42 |
|
Roscommon |
11 |
|
Sligo |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
58 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
117 |
|
Wicklow |
28 |
It is important to note that the number of applications on hand as outlined above can be recorded differently across local authorities. For example, some local authorities base figures on open ended application periods while others do not, and some local authorities retain applications for periods which can date back to as far as 2008 while others do not.
In addition, it should also be noted that figures for applications on hand do not infer that those applications can be delivered in a given time period. For example, as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with local authorities on this matter they have indicated that the maximum total of roads that could be delivered this year would be some 850 due to factors such as availability of contractors etc.
As set out in Our Rural Future, I am committed to ensuring the ongoing funding of this important scheme and I continue to seek the support of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, in order to fund the scheme into the future.
