Minister hopeful of LIS partnership
The Rural and Community Development Minister says she’s hopeful her department can get “a bit of help” in funding the Local Improvement Scheme.
Under the LIS, county councils are provided with funding to carry out works on private laneways that lead to a number of homes or a public amenity. The roads are not in the ownership of the local authority.
The scheme falls under the Department of Rural and Community Development. There are regular calls for the scheme to be moved to the Department of Transport, which many feel is the appropriate department to allocate funding for such works.
The scheme was reopened in recent years by former Minister Michael Ring after being suspended during the economic downturn.
The issue was raised with Heather Humphreys, Cavan-Monaghan TD and Minister for Rural and Community Development at an Oireachtas committee meeting where Clare TD Joe Carey called for the cost burden of the programme to be shared between departments.
Minister Humphreys said she’s hopeful of progress being made.
“I will follow up again with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Perhaps he can give us a bit of help. It would all add up and it would mean that we can get rid of the very long list. If the committee saw fit to write to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, it would be useful. If he were able to match some of the funding I am providing, it would make a big difference.”
Cavan last year received over €1.1 million in funding. However, councillors were told last month that over €11 million is needed to clear the waiting list for the scheme in the county.
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