A NEW pilot scheme is to begin in Wexford which will see local communities getting involved in repairing local roads.
The scheme will see around €398,8130 allocated to Co. Wexford through the Community Involvement in Road Works Scheme (CIRWS).
Commenting on the initiative to The Echo, Min. Paul Kehoe, said: “This represents a new and innovative reform of our road maintenance system and work, with a total value of over €14 million, can now be carried out at a cost to the taxpayer of €10.6 million with the balance being contributed by the local community.”
Under normal circumstances repairs to minor roads throughout Co. Wexford are only considered towards the end of each year’s roads programme when necessary work on major routes are completed.
However, according to Min. Kehoe the purpose of the new scheme will be to “permit local participation in the repair of roads”.
“In this way, if there are particular problems affecting a given stretch of road and if the local community are willing to assist the local authority (in money or kind) with the necessary works, then such roads can be improved sooner than would otherwise be the case,” he said.
He also pointed out that the statutory responsibilities of each local authority will remain in place.
Under the scheme Wexford Co. Council will ask communities across the county to come up with a portion of the cost of road maintenance either through funding, labour provision, machinery supply or other forms of benefit.
“This funding will then be added to the Department of Transport’s spend to prioritise maintenance in rural isolated areas and will allow communities have a direct input along with their local authority into local road maintenance,” said Min. Kehoe.
