Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The local improvement scheme should really be within the remit of another Department. However, I reintroduced it because I knew that there was a need for it. To date, I have put €48 million into it. Everybody has to play a part in ensuring the success of the programme, as I have been telling local authorities and their elected representatives as they draw up their budgets. Instead of charging my Department for administering the scheme, I am calling on the local authorities to use their discretionary funding and any other Department that has money to help to fund the LIS. I agree with the Deputy that it is a very important scheme, for which more funding is required. I have another €10 million in my budget for it next year. However, as of last month, a number of counties had not drawn down one penny of the money I allocated last February. I made the allocations in February because local authorities had previously complained that they were getting the moneys too late, yet we are now finding that the funding has not been drawn down. I hope the various roads projects will be completed by the end of the year. More funding is required for the scheme. Everybody has a role to play in that regard.

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