Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The local improvement scheme, LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private and non-public roads. The scheme is currently funded by my Department and administered through the local authorities.

Following on from the successful relaunch of the scheme in 2017, I announced details of the 2018 local improvement scheme on 27 February. I allocated an initial amount of €10.8 million to local authorities across the country this year under the scheme. The 2018 funding includes an allocation of €482,000 for County Clare.

The list of projects which the councils have selected for improvement works on the basis of their allocations can be found on my Department’s website.

As part of the LIS scheme this year, I also requested each county council to compile a secondary list of suitable LIS road projects which they could complete if additional funding becomes available within my Department's Vote later in the year.

I am assessing the level of expenditure on all my Department's programmes on an ongoing basis, and I will make decisions shortly on whether there is scope for any additional funding to be allocated to the local improvement scheme this year.

More than 1,100 roads have benefitted from improvement works since I relaunched the LIS in September last year. This is having a hugely positive impact for residents and landowners along those roads in terms of access to their premises and properties.

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