€855,000 for private rural roads in Mayo

MINISTER Michael Ring has approved €855,000 for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) for improvement works on private rural roads in Mayo. This is part of a €10 million national programme to support the improvement of non-public rural roads by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The LIS supports improvement works on private/non-public roads such as the lanes and boreens that enable people to access their homes and farms. These roads are not under the normal maintenance of the local authorities but are a vital artery for people living in rural areas.

Said Minister Ring: “This scheme is a lifeline for people living in rural areas because it directly improves their access to and from their homes and farms.

“It’s important to remember that many people living in rural areas use these roads on every journey they take. So if you’re doing five journeys a day to and from your home and there are bad potholes on your access road, it really impacts on you. By investing in the improvement of these roads we are helping to improve people’s quality of life in rural areas.

“My department will be in contact with local authorities in the coming days and I would encourage each local authority to carefully compile a list of suitable roads for submission to the department.

“The lists should be based on their funding allocation and their capacity to undertake and complete the works before the end of July 2018.

“The upkeep of these roads is a priority for people who live in rural Ireland and this funding, in conjunction with the local community's own resources and the resources of the local authorities, will allow for the maintenance and improvement of many more local roads throughout Mayo.

“Last year I allocated €1.27 million for the LIS in Co. Mayo, part of a €17 million national package. This repaired 89 roads in Mayo and I will be looking at a second allocation of LIS funding in September.

“This scheme was a great success and I received an unprecedented amount of positive feedback in relation to it. The scheme had been re-introduced last year after an eight year gap so there is significant built up demand for investment in private rural roads.”