Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide specific funding to reintroduce the local improvement scheme in view of the importance of this particular scheme to local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5272/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme remains in place and it has not been abolished.  The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.

At present, local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial Discretionary Grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes is 20% of the total cost of the project.  Furthermore, it is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of their Discretionary Grant that they can use for the LIS with their own resources.

Some local authorities want a ring-fenced LIS allocation for private roads while others prefer to put the funding into public roads. I think this decision is best made at a local level.