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 2011. Since then 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.
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.