Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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527. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to consider the design of a scheme to provide funding for the ongoing maintenance of roads that have been reconstituted under the construction industry scheme or local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16754/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​There is a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in place. This Scheme provides funding for private roads and laneways, the maintenance and improvement of which is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. While the LIS does not have a ring-fenced allocation in 2016, local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding (15% of the Discretionary Grant) for LIS should they wish to do so. In addition Councils can also provide monies from their own resources towards LIS.

There is also a  Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) in place whereby local authorities may set aside 7.5% of their Restoration Improvement and Restoration Maintenance grants for CIS schemes if they so wish.

The Programme for a Partnership Government provides that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Improvement Schemes and Local Improvement Schemes, on an annual basis. A major objective for the new Government will be to prioritise new investment in local and regional road maintenance and improvements, and CIS and LIS funding will be promoted in that context.