Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
218. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase funding allocated to local authorities for community involvement schemes, given their important role in maintaining and repairing our local and rural road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51628/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from Councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter for local authorities.
For 2026, €718 million was allocated by my Department, under the Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme, for improvement and maintenance work, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal. This facilitated an increase in funding allocation of €26 million for road protection and renewal works.
Our Programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for Community Involvement Schemes. This year, €16.2 million was allocated to local authorities for such schemes, which is an increase of €1.4 million from the previous year.
In 2018, my Department introduced ring-fenced funding for Community Involvement Schemes. The focus is the repair of more lightly trafficked public roads, which might not be prioritised in a local authority's annual roads work programme. Under such schemes, a local community can contribute funding or in kind, through the provision of labour or machinery.
Up to 2021, community contributions in the range of 15% to 30% had been required, depending on the mix between funding and in kind contributions. These rates were then reduced to a minimum of 10% for funding and 20% for in kind contributions. This was more aligned with the Local Improvement Scheme, which is under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
From 2026, the contribution rate for funding has been reduced to a minimum of 8%, with the 20% rate for in kind contributions retained.
To allow time for sufficient planning and applications, local authorities are invited to apply for funding for Community Involvement Schemes over a two-year programme. The most recent applications were received in late 2025 and covered the period 2026 to 2027.
