Cavan has highest number of CIS applications in country

Seamus Enright

Cavan communities are the most eager in the country to take the Government up on the piloted Community Involvement Scheme (CIS), the Celt can reveal. The CIS enables communities to ensure their local road is prioritised for repair by making a private contribution of between 20-50% of the costs of the overall work.

Fifty-four applications were made by communities across County Cavan interested in contributing towards works on local roads, with the total cost of the applications lodged by Cavan Council amounting to €1,299,575.

Due to the interest shown in the scheme, the Department has increased the initial sum allocated from €5m to €10.6m over two-years in 2013 and 2014. It means that work will now be undertaken at 377 locations across the country and see over 240kms of local roads improved.

A total of 428 applications were registered with the Department by 25 county councils and one city council for funding, with the overall cost of applications standing at €15,514,768. After Cavan, the next highest number of applications came from County Galway with 53 applications, Mayo 45 and North Tipperary County Council with 36.

There was significant interest shown in neighbouring counties too, Leitrim County Council lodging 15 applications for a sum of costs equalling €436,440, Meath with 11 at €1,937,335, Longford with two at €64,904, while Monaghan had none.

Welcoming the rise in funding allocation, Minister of State Alan Kelly TD said it will further 'prioritise maintenance in rural isolated areas and will allow communities have a direct input along with their local authority into local road maintenance.'
He said the scheme recognises local community involvement without in any way taking from the statutory responsibilities of county councils.