Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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1089. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a once-off allocation of funding will be made to clear the backlog of local improvement schemes in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25068/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The regional and local road grant allocations for 2018 were announced at the end of January and do not make provision for Local Improvement Schemes (LIS). This approach was taken in light of the fact that the Minister for Rural and Community Development announced that he would be providing significant funding for LIS this year and I was conscious of the continuing pressing need to direct resources into maintaining and renewing roads which have been taken in charge.

I am also conscious that the LIS is complemented by other streams of funding within the ambit of the Department of Rural and Community Development including CLÁR funding for small scale capital projects in rural areas - including private roads - that have experienced significant levels of depopulation.

In light of the above the Deputy may wish to contact the Minister for Rural and Community Development in this regard.

I have however recently announced funding of €23m for Community Involvement Schemes, of which, Leitrim County Council are receiving almost €1.2m for improvements to local roads. All available grant funding has been allocated by my Department.