Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase funding available to the local improvement scheme programme; and the cost of restoring the programme to pre-2012 levels. [54092/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase funding available to the local improvement scheme programme; and the cost of restoring the programme to pre-2012 levels. [54096/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 630 together.

Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding resulting from the financial crisis it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in respect of  the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2012. No provision was made for LIS in 2012. Since 2013 local authorities have had the option of using a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for LIS should they wish to do so. The decision on whether to allocate funding for LIS and the management of the allocation process has been a matter for each local authority.

Details of LIS allocations before 2012 are included in the Regional and Local Road Grant Payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.

Minister Ring's Department is now taking the lead regarding the LIS having  launched a scheme in September 2017 and I understand further funding will be allocated by that Department in 2018.