Irish Rural Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív has announced a new Gaeltacht scheme called Scéim Bóithre Pobail (Community Roads Scheme).

This new scheme succeeds Scéim na mBóithre Portaigh (Bog Roads Scheme) which has been in operation since this year.

The Community Roads Scheme will be limited to roads which are not county roads, walking and cycling paths, coastal roads, roads to small piers, cemeteries and bogs in Gaeltacht areas.

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Údarás na Gaeltachta will run this scheme and works will be carried out under the Rural Social Scheme or the Community Unemployment Scheme. The Irish language will part of the assessment criteria for the scheme. A maximum amount of €10,000 per kilometre will be paid out under the scheme.

It is expected that the Údarás will roll out the new scheme in the near future.

"It is necessary that public access should be of a safe and satisfactory standard," the Minister said, and "I am very pleased to be able to establish the Community Roads Scheme which will cater for access in the Gaeltacht."

(PR/BMcC)