Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the updated criteria for community involvement schemes will issue to all local authorities [60542/25]

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 each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from Councils’ own resources and supplemented by State Road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

On 14th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

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 rates were reduced to a minimum of 10% for monetary contributions and 20% for works contribution. In the 2025 circular for applications, local authorities were notified that the contribution rate was reduced to a minimum of 8% for monetary contributions, with the contribution rate remaining at 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 local authorities invited in recent weeks to submit applications in the latest round for the 2026/2027 period.