Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is referring to the community improvement scheme, CIS, and the LIS. This is one of the funding streams that has been affected by the changes that have taken place. Once the Revised Estimates have been approved, we will have an understanding of the total amount available to us and how we can allocate that. I want to examine the CIS, in particular. I will be open with the Deputy because I do not want to create expectations I will be unable to meet. In previous years, the CIS was funded through a separate, additional amount that was made available to local authorities to spend. Where we are likely to go is within the total amount I have available is to see whether there is anything we can do with how the CIS was set up that might deal with the point the Deputy is referring to. I am clear, having met local authority staff and public representatives throughout the country, that the CIS can make a major difference to the operation and safety of local roads. If I can do something to make the scheme more widely available this year within the constraints I face, I would like to do so. I will look at that in the next fortnight.