Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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554. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the surcharge applied by each local authority in respect of the LIS scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49205/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for works to improve private/non-public roads, many of which are in rural areas. In September this year I allocated €10 million to Local Authorities to deliver the scheme, following consultation with the Authorities on the level of demand for such a scheme.    

The 2017 scheme required a contribution from local residents/landholders of 10% of the total cost of works for eligible roads with up to and including 5 residents, and 15% of the total cost for roads with 6 or more residents. Local Authorities were also permitted to include LIS roads that lead to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers or other tourist/heritage sites and in this instance, the local contribution is provided by the Local Authority itself.

In addition to the specific criteria set out in the 2017 scheme, the LIS was also subject to the criteria set out in the 2002 memorandum published by the then Department of the Environment and Local Government, which allowed administrative expenses of up to 15% of the net cost to be recouped by Local Authorities. 

As the LIS roads projects are expected to continue until the end of 2017, it is not possible at this stage to identify the administration costs attributable to LIS roads.