Laois ‘undoubtedly’ best in country for LIS schemes

Laois roads section outperformed all other councils in delivering Local Improvement Schemes in the past three years. 

That’s according to Council Director of Services, Simon Walton, who said the previous backlog had now been cleared for LIS schemes. 

“Local Improvement Schemes relate to private (non-public) roads. There are no details as to LIS allocations for 2024, at the time of drafting this Report. The Local Improvement Scheme is advised and funded by the Department of Rural and Community  Development (DRCD),” Mr Walton noted in his roadwork scheme report.  

“Local Improvement Schemes, by any comparison the amount of Local Improvement Schemes completed in this county over the last three years has been undoubtedly, I would say, the most in the country,” Mr Walton said as he presented the report at a monthly meeting of Laois County Council.  

He said 58 schemes with a total value of €2.6 million had been carried out between 2021 and 2024. In 2021, Mr Walton said there were 90 schemes awaited with the oldest dating back to 2008. 

“We now obviously have had huge interest where we now have 69 applications to hand but of those 69, 60 have been received in either 2022 or 2023,” Mr Walton stated. 

He said the backlog has been addressed and there is increased interest in the scheme. 

Local Improvement Scheme funds will be allocated on a weighted basis, based on the number of applications to hand per Municipal District. Once available funding is identified, offers will be made to applicants. 

Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin thanked Mr Walton for a “very good” report and he welcomed the great progress on Local Improvement Schemes.