Vol. 442 No. 3
48 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to extend the pilot scheme for class 2 and 3 roads which he introduced in County Cavan to County Louth; if the scheme has been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following the success of the pilot schemes which have operated in Cavan and other counties since 1992, I have already called on local authorities generally to seek to involve local communities in contributing, whether in money or kind, towards the maintenance and improvement of public roads in their areas. Local authorities may reserve a portion of their discretionary grant allocations for 1994 for projects attracting community support and in this way enhance significantly the return from public investment in these roads.
I understand that in recent years Louth County Council has, on its own initiative, set aside funds from its own resources to aid local community groups in carrying out improvement works which might not otherwise have been reached by the council's annual road works programme. I welcome the council's efforts in this regard. I intend to take account of the progress made by local authorities generally in promoting community involvement on road projects when determining discretionary grant allocations for 1995.
