Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for bringing this problem to my attention. It is coming at me thick and fast and the Deputy has certainly been the first out of the traps in tabling a Priority Question on the matter. I understand its importance to people, particularly those outside city areas.

The local improvement scheme remains in place this year. The scheme provides funding for private roads and laneways, the maintenance and improvement of which are, in the first instance, matters for the relevant landowner. While it does not have a ring-fenced allocation in 2016, local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding, 15% of the discretionary grant, for the local improvement scheme, should they wish to do so. In addition, councils can also provide moneys from their own resources towards the scheme.

A Programme for a Partnership Government provides that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for local improvement schemes on an annual basis. A major objective of the new Government will be to prioritise new investment in local and regional road maintenance and improvements and local improvement scheme funding will be promoted in that context.

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