Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason it has it has been decided to cut funding under the local improvement scheme for CLÁR areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25260/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Due to the significant increase in assistance for Local Improvement Scheme (L.I.S.) roads from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (D/EHLG) 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, it is important to 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, I recently announced a new CLÁR LIS roads measure for 2007. The Deputy should note that the total funding likely to be provided from both my Department and the D/EHLG for LIS roads in 2007 is set to increase by almost 6% on that available in 2006.