Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
775. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if value for money reviews are carried out on local improvement scheme allocations to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16557/24]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural and island residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Between 2017 and 2023 my Department has allocated almost €130 million to local authorities under the Local Improvement Scheme. This has upgraded, up to the end of 2023, over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes which has benefitted almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
While my Department provides funding for the Scheme, it is administered by each local authority, who are responsible for the selection and prioritisation of roads, and the procurement and tender process in line with Public Spending Code guidelines. As such, local authorities have put in place their own structures and procedures for ensuring that costs incurred represent a convincing value for money proposition, and that the investment is commensurate with the benefits that the improved roads will provide.
Internally within my Department, the operation of the Scheme is reviewed each year and the process for allocating funding is thoroughly examined to ensure that funds are distributed in such a way as to ensure that local authorities fully use their given allocations to complete repair works on as many eligible roads as possible. Any underspend identified at year end is returned to the Department. My Department, in recent years, has applied penalties to those local authorities with high underspends and will continue to closely monitor expenditure to ensure LIS funding is fully utilised by each local authority. Additionally, LIS funding is also subject to the range of control and evaluation procedures implemented by my officials such as the annual programme of on site inspections and the rolling series of internal audit reports.
I intend to announce the 2024 scheme imminently. My officials will contact local authorities regarding the details of the scheme as soon as it is announced.
