Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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189. 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 and to date in 2019, by local authority in tabular form; the projected number of road projects to be completed in 2019; the number of projects approved under the LIS since re-established on an annual basis by county; and the number of projects that were not approved by county. [14713/19]

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 €17.5 million to Local Authorities for LIS roads in that year. In 2018, I allocated over €20 million for LIS roads in two phases.

Local Authorities themselves determine which roads they wish to prioritise from the funding allocated to them under LIS, and to ensure that all roads meet with the scheme criteria. Approval of LIS projects, or otherwise, is therefore entirely a matter for the relevant Local Authority.

Based on the most up to date information available to my Department, approximately 1,254 roads have been completed under the 2017 and 2018 schemes. Local Authorities have until the 31st of March this year to complete works on more than 350 roads under Phase 2 of the 2018 scheme. The breakdown of these figures on a county-by-county basis is provided on the table below.

On 7th February 2019, I announced a sum of €10 million for LIS 2019. Allocations on a county by county basis can be found on my Department’s website at

The Local Authorities have been asked to submit their final lists of roads for 2019 on or before 1^stApril 2019.

LIS roads 2017 and 2018 by county