The Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Under that scheme, funding can be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads (that is roads not taken in charge by local authorities) which meet the criteria set out in the Act.
It is important to highlight that the maintenance of non-public roads is the responsibility of the relevant landowners; local authorities only have statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of public roads (in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993). Works on these public roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road Grants.
In 2018, the Department introduced ring-fenced funding for Community Involvement Schemes. The purpose of the Community Involvement Scheme is to facilitate local community participation in the repair of local roads. The focus of the programme is on the repair of more lightly trafficked public roads which might not be high on the list of a local authority's annual roadwork programme. Under the scheme a local community can contribute in money or in kind, for example by making labour or machinery available.
While community contributions in the range 15% to 30% had been required up to 2021, depending on the mix between works and monies, the contribution rate has now been reduced to a minimum of 10% for monetary contributions and 20% for works contribution. This is more in line with Local Improvement Scheme contribution rates.
The Community Involvement Scheme is purely voluntary and does not take away from the statutory responsibilities of each road authority. It is intended to be an extra option, where suitable, for local authorities and communities to address issues on tertiary roads where needed.
