A pilot scheme, the Community Involvement Scheme, which is being rolled out nationally, will see direct community input into necessary road maintenance projects through the provision of labour, machinery or additional funding. €370,000 is being provided for County Limerick in 2013, it has been announced by the Department of Transport. The scheme gives the authority to local communities to prioritise road maintenance and improvement projects, and the allocation is earmarked to improve 22 projects in County Limerick, covering over 12 kilometres.

While the Department is providing €370,000 in funding, the total value of the proposed works is over €463,000; the community will make up the remainder of the funding required by providing labour, machinery or other forms of benefit.

The Community Involve-ment Scheme gives the power to local communities in Limerick to identify lesser trafficked roads that need to be repaired or maintained which would not usually be considered for funding.

The announcement has been welcomed by Deputies Patrick O’Donovan and Dan Neville.