Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2024
219. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the projects in east Galway that have been approved for funding under the local improvement scheme; the amount of funding received, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and the year to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43441/24]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are generally not maintained by local authorities.
My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after several years without dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2024, my Department allocated almost €170 million to local authorities under the scheme. Up to the end of 2023, this has upgraded over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes, benefitting nearly 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
While my Department provides funding for the scheme, it is administered by each local authority, which is responsible for the selection and prioritisation of roads in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in the scheme outline. My Department retains LIS information on a county rather than municipal area basis. Details relating to municipal areas may be available from the relevant local authorities.
Last year, over €1.99 million in funding was granted to Galway County Council, including LIS funding for repairing island roads. This brings the total amount allocated to Galway since 2017 to more than €10.4 million. The table below sets out the overall funding allocated to Galway County Council in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and to date in 2024, as well as the number of roads completed.
Dedicated funding was introduced last year for LIS repair works on eligible island roads. Galway received €476,000 and has been allocated €500,000 in LIS funding across 2024 and 2025.
|
Galway |
Roads Completed |
Funding Allocated |
|
2020 |
30 |
€856,959 |
|
2021 |
49 |
€1,580,871 |
|
2022 |
50 |
€1,682,841 |
|
2023 |
48 |
€1,994,259 |
|
2024/2025 |
*TBC |
€3,088,444 |
|
Total |
177 |
€8,727,374 |
