GENERAL ELECTION: Pat the Cope Gallagher has called on the Government to reinstate the road grants under the local improvement scheme (LIS) for non county and accommodation roads.
The LIS grant scheme was suspended in 2011 and since then many non-county roads have deteriorated considerably with many roads right throughout Donegal in an extremely poor state of repair.
Pat the Cope told Donegal Daily, “In many parts of Donegal roads leading to family homes, land holdings and multiple dwellings have no road status, or were previously abandoned county roads and the only funding opportunity for these roads was the LIS grants through Donegal county council.
During Gallagher’s tenure as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Donegal County Council was allocated the highest national level of LIS funding when over 250 non county/accommodation roads were funded in the county in one year.
Many families and access to their homes depend solely on funding availability through LIS – getting the road repaired to and from their home was by way of the LIS grants.
Gallagher added, “I’ve committed to fully reintroducing the local improvement schemes if successful in the forthcoming election.”
Meantime Gallagher has called on the present Government to reinstate the road improvement scheme as since its suspension many rural communities and families have become disadvantaged due to the withdrawal of the scheme.
Pat the Cope concluded by saying, “For small investment in rural areas this scheme can make a huge and significant impact on the daily lives of people who depend on non county roads for access to their homes.”
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