Works on some public roads will be given priority in areas where local people make contributions toward the cost involved.
That’s according to a local authority official in the north west following the announcement this week of allocations for road works under the Community Involvement Scheme.
The Community Involvement Scheme is similar to the long-standing Local Improvement Scheme, which is for private roads.
Under the Community Involvement Scheme, local people will be required to make contributions of a minimum of 15% toward works — not on private but on some minor, local and regional public roads.
In allocations announced this week under the scheme, Donegal is to get €2, 248,000; Sligo €1,453,000; and Leitrim €1,196,000.
Now it’s emerging that not only will local people be asked to make contributions under the scheme for public roads — either in money or work — but that the areas from where contributions are forthcoming will get priority.
Sligo County Council Director of Services Tom Kilfeather says he accepts there will be people with differing views on the issue:
Independent Sligo councillor Michael Clarke was among a group that recently met with Transport Minister Shane Ross seeking more money for roads.
Cllr Clarke says the Community Involvement Scheme will enable work to be done on roads that otherwise might not be done for years.
And he says there’s already interest in the scheme from local communities:
