Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of rural roads that were approved for funding under the local improvement scheme in 2018 and to date in 2019, by local authority in tabular form; the number of road projects completed in 2018 and to date in 2019; the projected number of road projects to be completed by the end of 2019; and if he will allocate additional funds to the scheme in 2019. [50622/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Since I reintroduced the Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS,  in 2017, I have allocated over €48 million to the scheme, which has resulted in the approval of over 2,000 roads projects. 

The LIS is funded by my Department and administered through the Local Authorities. The number and location of roads to benefit from improvement works under the scheme is a matter for the relevant Local Authority.

The table below outlines the number of LIS projects approved, and the number that have been confirmed as completed to date under the scheme in 2018 and 2019.  In a small number of cases, the number of roads completed is greater than the number originally approved, due to necessary substitutions agreed with my Department, as allowed for under the terms of the scheme. 

The final returns in respect of the 2019 scheme are currently being processed by my Department and I expect the number of roads completed to be in line with those approved earlier in the year. 

I allocated €10 million to the LIS for 2019 and I expect this funding to be fully utilised.  There is no funding available in my Department's Vote for an additional allocation this year.  However, I have secured funding for the scheme again in 2020 and I expect that a new round of funding will be announced in the New Year.

Table 1: LIS-Number of Roads Approved and Completed