Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has budgeted for the LIS scheme in 2018; the demand for the scheme and financial allocations to date, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8735/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

There has been very little funding available for this scheme in recent years due to constraints on public expenditure.  However, I was very conscious of the underlying demand for the scheme in rural areas throughout the country.

I therefore announced the provision of €10 million to Local Authorities for a Local Improvement Scheme last September.  Based on demand and the capacity of Local Authorities to complete works before the end of 2017, I allocated an additional €7.4 million to Local Authorities for LIS roads at the end of November.

It is clear that there is a continuing demand for LIS funding in rural communities across Ireland, and I have therefore secured an allocation of €10 million for the scheme in my Department's Estimate for 2018.  I intend to announce details of the scheme, which will include individual county allocations, later this month.