Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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772. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase funding available to the local improvement scheme programme; the cost of restoring the programme to pre-2012 levels. [23997/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) remains in place this year. 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.  The level of ring-fenced funding provided by the Department in 2011 was €5 million.  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 addtion Councils can also provide monies from their own resources towards LIS.

The Programme for a Partnership Government provides that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for 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 LIS funding will be promoted in that context.