Lack of roads funding ‘significant challenge’ for council

The lack of funding to build strategic roads in Cork county will provide a “significant challenge” for the local authority.

Cork County Council’s chief executive Tim Lucey referred specifically to the urgency for a bypass in satellite town Carrigaline and, also, a link to the proposed Science and Innovation Park at Curraheen on the western approach to Cork city.

He made his comment after county councillors received a letter from acting Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe who said, under the current financial climate, money was being targeted on repairing and strengthening existing roads rather than building new ones.

He said grant aid for strategically important new roads had been curtailed in order to divert funding to repairing existing ones which had suffered, in particular, in recent years from weather-related damage.

Cllr Seamus McGrath (FF) described the response from Mr Donohoe as “exceptionally disappointing”, expressing concern at the effect it would have on developing the Science and Innovation Park and the continuing gridlock which would face motorists in Carrigaline without the western bypass.

“These are key projects and they are badly needed,” Mr McGrath said.

Mr Lucey said the lack of strategic roads funding “does provide us with a significant challenge”.

“If we were on the strategic road list we would get funding over seven years [for schemes such as Carrigaline and Curraheen]. We won’t be able to do it from our normal resources,” the chief executive said.

Cllr Paul Hayes (SF) said he was also very disappointed with the response.

“We get a very poor return on the €54m we [the people of Cork city and county[ give to the government in road tax every year,” he said.

It was ridiculous urging tourists to come to view the Wild Atlantic Way when some roads on a section of it in West Cork “were in a terrible state”, he claimed.

Cllr Noel Collins (Ind) said it wasn’t just West Cork where roads were in a dire condition.

“At Ballintubber West in Carrigtwohill, there are craters and road subsidence. Photos were submitted [to the council] eight weeks ago and nothing has been done yet to rectify it,” he stated.

Mr Lucey said the council had received €11m from the Government to cover damage to roads by the storms of last December/early January. He said the funding should cover the overall cost of repairs.

However, the county council had received some money from the Government for repairs for storm damage mainly caused to roads in West Cork last September, but was still awaiting another €1.5m in aid.