Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1393: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he intends to re-establish funding for local improvement schemes in respect of local and community roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17697/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As you are aware, the Local Improvements Scheme provided funding for non-public roads and the maintenance and improvement of these roads is in the first instance a matter for the relevant landowner. In view of the current financial circumstances, my Department is not in a position to provide funding under the Local Improvements Scheme in 2012. Given the limited funding available to maintain the road network, I have to concentrate resources on the maintenance of public roads, including those in rural areas and it is not possible to assist with works on non-public roads at present. However, the scheme has been suspended and not abolished. If and when the financial position of the State improves, it will be possible to re-open this scheme. In the interim, it is open to local authorities to continue to operate the scheme or a similar scheme from their own resources and I am sure they will do if they consider it to be a good use of limited resources.