Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 October 2014
16. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide the necessary 80% funding available under a community involvement scheme if an application were to be made by parishes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36798/14]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its 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.
A pilot €10.6m Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) for works on regional and local roads was started in 2013. The Scheme was successful in allowing local authorities to carry out with community support maintenance work on more lightly trafficked roads which could not otherwise be done.
Following the success of the scheme in 2013 the scheme is being continued in 2014 with additional funding of €12.4m. made available this year for the scheme including monies provided under the Government's May Stimulus plan.
Local authorities were asked to put forward suitable schemes in line with the scheme criteria earlier this year. The proposals received from the local authorities were then reviewed by my Department and allocations made taking into account the amount of funding available. Where a project does not go ahead, local authorities are allowed to substitute an alternative suitable scheme but the decision on which schemes to recommend rests with the local authority. The promoters of this scheme should, therefore, continue to liaise with the local authority.
A decision on the continuation of the scheme in 2015 will be made as part of the overall grant programme assessment.
