Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 637: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason local authorities in CLÁR areas have not been provided with funding for local improvement schemes from the CLÁR budget for 2007; the locations where the funding was diverted to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20886/07]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 638: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding paid from the CLÁR section to county councils for LIS schemes in 2006 on a county basis; the amount he will make available in 2007; if he is making such a payment, when it will be available to county council structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21112/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 638 together.

Due to the significant increase in assistance for Local Improvement Scheme Roads (L.I.S.) from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the past number of years (approx €11m in 2002 & 2003, €12.1m in 2004, €12.5m in 2005, €25m in 2006 and €30m in 2007), my Department has decided to place a greater emphasis on funding water and sewerage schemes during 2007 under the CLÁR Programme. In this context, the Deputies should note that approvals under these schemes increased from €3.7m in 2005 to €6.9m in 2006 and to €7.4m in 2007 to date.

However, subject to funding being available, I hope to run an LIS roads measure in the autumn of 2007. In this regard, my Department has written to each Local Authority requesting information on various measures and L.I.S. roads, in particular. A final decision in regard to the measure will be made once the required information has been returned. Details of LIS roads approvals and payments made in 2006 are set out in the following table.