Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of rural roads that have received funding under the LIS in each of the years 2016 to 2018, by local authority in tabular form; and the projected number of road projects to be completed in 2019. [3028/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities.

As the Deputy may be aware, there was no dedicated funding for this scheme for a number of 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 reintroduced the LIS in September 2017 and allocated a total of €17.4 million to Local Authorities for LIS roads in 2017. In 2018, I allocated almost €20 million for LIS roads in two phases.

The table which accompanies my reply outlines the number of LIS roads projects completed in 2017 and those completed under the first round of funding in 2018 to date, broken down by Local Authority. Final figures in respect of 2018 will not be available until all final returns have been submitted to my Department by the Local Authorities.

A sum of €10 million has been allocated for the LIS in my Department's 2019 Estimate, and I intend to announce details of the scheme in the coming weeks. The number and location of roads to benefit from improvement works in 2019 will be a matter for the relevant Local Authority. However, based on previous figures, I would anticipate that the level of funding available would fund the completion of a further 300 to 400 LIS road projects.