Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he would consider allocating increased funding under the CIS scheme for rural roads, especially in local authorities with a substantial number of small public roads that rely on this funding to improve access for rural dwellers. [3234/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

In 2018, the Department introduced ring-fenced funding for Community Involvement Schemes (CIS). The purpose of the CIS 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.

In order to allow for sufficient planning and applications for this scheme, local authorities are invited to apply for funding for CIS projects for a two-year programme with the latest round of applications received in 2023 for the 2024/2025 period.

Grant allocations for 2024 were issued in February 2024 with €13m being made available to local authorities under the CIS grant.

The CIS 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.

It is important to reiterate that the annual programme of works is decided by the local authorities, and the Department has no role in this process.

Grant allocations for 2025 will be notified to local authorities in the coming weeks.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he would consider ‘match funding’ the local improvement scheme road funding allocation for 2025 from the Department of Rural and Community Development, which has generously funded the schemes over the past five years, given the importance of his Department allocating specific funding for these schemes, which are over-subscribed in many local authority areas. [3235/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), allowing funding to be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads which meet certain criteria. 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.

My department has not provided dedicated funding towards the LIS programme since 2012. Between 2013 to 2017, local authorities were permitted discretion to use a proportion of their Discretionary Road Grant for the LIS programme if they chose to do so. In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community Development reintroduced a dedicated funding stream for the LIS. Considering the significant funding support being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the need to direct limited resources into maintaining and renewing public roads, it was decided that Discretionary Grants would no longer support LIS programmes. This remains the position. Maintenance and improvement of public roads is essential to ensure a safe network with a high level of service and social/economic connectivity.