Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
775. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will urgently examine making amendments to cater for situations where one landowner on a road is refusing to sign up to the local improvement scheme, either as a contributor or has no objection to the scheme, thus depriving other landowners of the opportunity to avail of the scheme. [18982/24]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The 2024 was launched last week with a record investment of €40 million across 2024 and 2025.
Under the terms of the Scheme for 2024, eligible road projects are those that involve the construction or improvement of non-public roads which prove access:
· To parcels of land, of which, two or more are owned or occupied by different persons, one of which must be engaged in agricultural activities; or
· For harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons or
· To at least one parcel of land owned/occupied by a person engaged in agricultural activities and which separately provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for at least one other person.
In addition, works can be carried out on amenity roads, which are non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountain access points or other tourist/heritage sites.
While my Department provides the funding, local authorities administer the scheme and are solely responsible for the selection and prioritisation of eligible roads. Section 81(4)(a) of the Local Government Act, 2001 requires a prior written agreement between the beneficiaries and the road authority, and compliance with this and other requirements of the scheme is administered at a local level by each local authority.
