Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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34. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding will be allocated to local authorities for the local improvement scheme for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3034/19]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he plans to make an allocation for the local improvement scheme for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2983/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 49 and 50 together.

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 therefore 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 €21 million to Local Authorities across the country under the scheme.

It is clear that there is a continuing demand for LIS funding in rural communities across Ireland, and I have therefore secured a further allocation of €10 million for the scheme in the 2019 Estimates process. I anticipate that I will be in a position to announce details of the 2019 scheme in the coming weeks.