Leitrim County Council seeks meeting with Minister for LIS funding

At the Council meeting on Monday, July 8, Cllr Gary Prior asked Leitrim County Council to support a proposal for a group of councillors to meet with Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD. 

The goal of this is to request a significant sum of money to help deal with the large number of applications for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) for rural private lane-ways. 

The funding would enable the Council to deal with the backlog of applications more quickly, along with re-opening the scheme for new applicants. 

“This is something that has come up many times over the last few years, but we've now reached a point where we need to come up with solutions on how we're going to reduce the huge backlog of applicants,” Cllr Prior said. 

Solutions needed to secure rural Leitrim’s future

Council backs Cllr Gurn’s motion to address one-off housing costs in Leitrim

“Which currently stands at the moment of 162 applicants, which if we are doing well it will be about 150 at the end of the year.

“In its current form, we are looking at possibly 12 to 13 years to clear what's on the waiting list without even having new applicants to the list. 

“This was a huge issue and talking point on every rural lane-way on our canvass during the local elections.” 

Cllr Justin Warnock announced his full support for Cllr Prior's motion.

“Until we can get a grip on this list that we have, it will go on forever,” Cllr Warnock commented.

€966,000 has been allocated for this for 2024 and 2025.

Senior Engineer, Terry McGovern said: "Over the last four years we've completed about 65, and that was with grant funding of about €3.25m.

“In 2022 we got two allocations, a total of €1.1m. This year we got €966,000 for the current year and 2025. We may get another allocation, we're not sure yet.

“There will be approximately eight roads done this year. We feel we need about €8.5m to clear the current list.

“We can only assess them going forward because prices change,” he said.

Taoiseach pressed over need for talks after Coolock disturbances

Cathaoirleach Cllr Paddy O'Rourke suggested calling a meeting with the Minister for Transport to discuss this matter also.