Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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1106. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reintroduce the local road improvement scheme for the benefit of roads in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27745/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvements Scheme provided funding for the maintenance and improvement of private roadways which are, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. 

State grants available to supplement expenditure by local authorities on the maintenance of regional and local roads have been reduced significantly and there will be further cuts over the next few years.  The scale of the cuts have necessitated that some grant programmes be curtailed or ended.

In making adjustments to the regional and local roads allocations the primary aim has been, as far as is possible, to protect previous investment in the road network and use the  available funding to maintain and restore public roads, including those in rural areas.  Given that priority, it was not possible to provide a separate allocation under the Local Improvement Scheme in 2013. 

Instead this year local authorities have been provided with the opportunity to use up to 7% of their Discretionary Grant on these private roads under the Local Improvements Scheme should they wish to do so, however it is a matter for the Council to prioritise their work programmes and decide if they wish to avail of this flexibility.