Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the impact the lack of a local improvement scheme is having on the roads and laneways in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21969/17]

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.  While the LIS does not have a ring-fenced allocation in 2017, local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding (15% of the Discretionary Grant)  for LIS should they wish to do so.  All available grant funding for this year has been allocated. In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Involvement and Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation  once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.