Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the moneys paid to local authorities to date for work that is not already completed and suitable verification provided to his Department by county; the schemes this money relates to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52375/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I interpret the Deputy's question as referring to schemes launched by my Department in 2017.

Earlier this year, I launch a number of schemes that provide support for the development of rural communities. These include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor/Rural Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme and the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).

These schemes all include conditions which require works to have commenced and progressed before payments can be draw-down by Local Authorities.

In the case of the LIS, funding can be drawn down on certification by a Local Authority that 50% of their works have been completed and that all works will be fully completed by 31st December 2017. In addition to Local Authority certification and desk-based checks by my officials, my Department's Inspection Services have completed on-the-spot verification checks on LIS roads in a number of counties and were able to verify that works had been completed to the level certified. Further inspection and audit will be carried out in 2018 under the LIS, and other schemes.

In the case of the Outdoor Rural Recreation Infrastructure scheme, the Town and Village Renewal scheme and the CLÁR programme, Local Authorities are required to spend at least 20% of the total project cost before the first tranche payment of 50% of their allocation under the respective scheme can be drawn-down. The balance of funding will only be paid on full completion of the projects in question.

The release of the initial tranche of funding is also subject to satisfactory progress being demonstrated in respect of the 2016 schemes, where such funding was provided to the Local Authorities.

The table provided details the allocations made to each Local Authority under the schemes referred to above. It also shows the payments made to each Local Authority up to 6th December 2017, on the basis of the criteria outlined above having been met. I anticipate that further payments will be made before the end of the year.

It is important to note that apart from the LIS, the rural development schemes which were launched this year are expected to operate over a 12-15 month period. Therefore, it was always anticipated that a portion of the funds allocated would be drawn-down in 2018.

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