Intervention sought to clear road and laneway improvement backlog in Kilkenny
Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick has called on Minister Heather Humphreys and the Taoiseach to provide once off additional funding for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) to clear the backlog of improvements needed in the county’s local roads and laneways.
There are currently a large amount of small, local country roads in desperate need of repair and improvement with many having been on the list for improvement for more than 10 years.
Although the government announced an additional funding allocation of €16 million for the scheme recently, Cllr Fitzpatrick feels that funding should be provided to clear the full backlog of schemes that have been waiting for improvements for a long number of years.
“A rural county like Kilkenny has numerous local roads that are in desperate need of repair with many having no chance of receiving funding in the foreseeable future,” he said.
“Surely with in excess of €65 billion in budget surpluses, the government can well afford to fund a once-off allocation to clear the backlog of local improvement schemes.”
The Local Improvement Scheme is used for improvement works of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by Kilkenny County Council.
These works are essential to supporting vital road infrastructure in rural communities, as well as providing access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities such as rivers and walking trails.
Cllr Fitzpatrick stated that Kilkenny County Council has identified and prioritised local roads for improvement works under the scheme, in consultation with residents and landowners.
“The local residents are ready to make their local contribution required under the scheme,” he said.
“All that is needed is for the government to make additional funding available.”
Under the scheme, the financial contribution provided by the household/landowner is set at 10% of the estimated cost for eligible roads with up to and including five households/landowners, and 15% for those roads with six or morehouseholds/landowners.
The maximum amount that a household/landowner is required to contribute is capped at €1,200.
Non-eligible roads include roads serving only houses or buildings occupied or used by persons not engaged in agriculture, and roads leading to commercial enterprises.