John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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209. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will contribute to the local improvement scheme fund in recognition of the wider public usage of roads being funded under the scheme; when his Department was last approached by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht with a view to securing a contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35303/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), allowing funding to be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads which meet certain criteria. It is important to highlight that the maintenance of non-public roads is the responsibility of the relevant landowners; local authorities only have statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of public roads (in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993). Works on these public roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road Grants.

My department has not provided dedicated funding towards the LIS programme since 2012. Between 2013 to 2017, local authorities were permitted discretion to use a proportion of their Discretionary Road Grant for the LIS programme if they chose to do so. In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community Development reintroduced a dedicated funding stream for the LIS. Considering the significant funding support being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the need to direct limited resources into maintaining and renewing public roads, it was decided that Discretionary Grants would no longer support LIS programmes. This remains the position. Maintenance and improvement of public roads is essential to ensure a safe network with a high level of service and social/economic connectivity.