Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of discretionary funding from his Department's financial allocations to local authorities that was for non-public LIS roads in 2016, 2017 and 2018; the amount that will be available for LIS in each of the years 2019 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7749/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

In 2016 and 2017 local authorities were able to use up to 15% of their Discretionary Grant for LIS.

As my colleague Minister Ring has indicated that he will be allocating €10 million in ring-fenced funding to LIS in 2018, the option of using this Department's Discretionary Grant funding for LIS is not applicable this year.  I have taken funding initiatives in two areas and set aside €10 million for both the Community Involvement Scheme and for Drainage Grants. 

I will be liaising with Government colleagues in relation to funding arrangements for future years.