Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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1666. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the operation of community involvement schemes in counties Galway and Mayo; his plans to retain or expand the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32222/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' 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 February this year, my Department announced the €294 million investment programme for regional and local roads. These grants are mainly focused on the maintenance of the existing road network and it is open to Councils to prioritise their works programmes each year.  Following completion of the Community Involvement pilot scheme in 2014, the position is that local authorities can set aside 7.5% of their Restoration Improvement and Restoration Maintenance grants for Community Involvement schemes if they so wish.

The Local Improvements Scheme provides funding for road and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. The Local Improvements Scheme was reinstated in 2013 with no separate allocation. In 2015, local authorities may use up to 15% of their Discretionary Grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so.  The local contribution for these schemes is set at 20%.

A further €24 million (Stimulus) under Restoration Improvement was allocated to local authorities in July 2015 and local authorities were permitted to use up to 20% of this additional allocation for CIS and up to 10% for the Local Improvements Scheme if they wish to do so.