Cork County Council to apply for funds for Carrigaline relief road

An application is to be prepared by Cork County Council for a special government infrastructure grant which could dramatically ease traffic jams in one of the country’s largest commuter towns.

The council is to prepare a submission under the local infrastructural fund, administered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for grant aid to build the western relief road in Carrigaline.

Council chief executive Tim Lucey agreed to the move after councillors in the Bandon/Kinsale municipal district highlighted it.

Cllr Aidan Lombard said it was vital that the application be progressed without delay because the new road was badly needed.

“The land is zoned for the road. Carrigaline would develop very quickly if it was built,” said Cllr Lombard.

“We need to make sure we do whatever we can to get funding for this road. Traffic is a major problem in the town,” said Cllr Eoghan Jeffers.

The Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Seamus McGrath, who lives in Carrigaline, described the western relief road as “a critical piece of infrastructure”.

“This road has been planned since 2007 and the land acquisition for it is complete. The council is appointing consultants to do a detailed design of it,” he added.

Council chief executive Tim Lucey said he would look at every avenue to get funding for the relief road.

He said he thinks it would fit the funding criteria, because it was mainly designed to create infrastructure to open up sites designated for new housing.

“There’s a challenge to ensure it can be a natural fit,” he said.

Mr Lucey said he would report back to councillors on the progress made before October 14.