Departmental Schemes

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Ceisteanna (338)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

338. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to several Parliamentary Questions (details supplied), if she will identify the local authorities referred to in the replies provided; to list the amounts recouped from each local authority for each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19907/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Material provided to the Deputy in Parliamentary Questions of 18th April set out details of amounts identified for recoupment on foot of inspections under the the Local Improvement Scheme across a number of years. My officials are currently collating data in relation to amounts subsequently recouped which will reflect the time lag between completion of works and inspections, the completion of any appeals in relation to such inspection findings, and the subsequent return of funding to my Department. This data will be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest date possible.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

Further to your PQ on 30/04/2024 regarding your request to identify the local authorities referred to in replies provided to previous PQs and to list the amounts recouped from each local authority for each year, I have outlined the information requested in the below table.

As previously advised, my Department’s Inspection and Compliance Unit carry out inspections on works completed under the Local Improvement Scheme. The associated inspection reports are provided to the LIS unit managing the scheme and can include findings with regard to expenditure which could be deemed ineligible based on scheme criteria, and expenditure which may require further query by the unit.

I wish to advise that the information provided in reply to Question 17203/24 (786) relates to the amounts identified in the initial findings of the relevant LIS inspection and compliance reports. The actual amounts recouped from local authorities are then finalised based on further clarifications from each local authority with regard to compliance with scheme criteria and, where such findings are appeal by a local authority, the outcome of the appeals process which is provided for by the Department.

As requested, the table below lists the actual amounts recouped under the LIS scheme from relevant local authorities from the period 2017 - 2021, and the year of the scheme to which the original funding relates. Inspections of works carried out in 2023 is ongoing and 2022 inspection findings are in the final stages of completion.

-	LIS Funding Recouped by the Dept. 2017 - 2021
Year LIS Works Completed	County Council	Final Amount Recouped
2017	Mayo	€58,585.82
2017	Clare	€13,782.70
2017	Donegal	€59,780.54
2017	Longford	€21,341.70
2018	Mayo	€7,158.83
2019	Tipperary	€1,500
2019	Galway	€59,718.31
2019	Kildare	€1,251
2020	Clare	€1,130.68
2020	Kerry	€4,100.64
2020	Galway	€27,361.35
2020	Mayo	€7,197.28
2020	Laois	€1,798.40
2020	Meath	€23,447.46
2020	Kilkenny	€44,482
2020	Offaly	€20,263.05
2021	Cavan	€31,048
2021	Monaghan	€10,290
2021	Limerick	€14,162.65
Total		€408,400.41