Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1559. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding expended on the local improvement scheme programme on an annual basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016; the associated number of projects supported in each of those years; the average payment made in each of those years; and the allocation for 2017. [37671/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding arising from the financial crisis, it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities from 2012 in respect of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Details of the allocations in respect of LIS made to local authorities for 2010 and 2011 are set out in the following table. The management of the Scheme, including the selection of projects for funding, is a matter for each local authority.

No monies were provided by the Department for LIS in 2012.

Since 2013, while there is no separate allocation for LIS, the allocation of funding for LIS has been devolved to local authorities, who can use a proportion of their Discretionary grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so. The allowable proportion of Discretionary Grant was 7% in 2013 and this was increased to 15% from 2014 onwards.

Details of the regional and local road grant payments to County Councils in the period 2010-2016 are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. Details of the 2017 regional and local road grant allocations to each County Council are also available in the Dáil library.

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.