'Disgraceful': Some Cork roads still not repaired after Storm Babet 

Some roads damaged in East Cork by Storm Babet in October 2023 still haven't reopened, while others damaged are in a rapidly deteriorating state. Picture Dan Linehan

Some roads in East Cork damaged during Storm Babet more than two years ago have still not reopened, with council estimates of up to €1bn to bring the county's 12,000km network up to a good standard.

The Mayor of County Cork described as “disgraceful” the lack of funding for road maintenance compared to other counties.

Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley said roads in far smaller counties are in “pristine condition” compared to pothole-filled ones in Cork, many of which are now in a dire state.

She said that in her capacity as mayor, she travels all over the country, and many roads in other counties are in a very good state of repair compared to Co Cork, which has the longest road network in the country – some 12,000kms.

Some roads damaged in East Cork by Storm Babet in October 2023 still haven't reopened, while others damaged are in a rapidly deteriorating state and haven’t received government funding to repair them. Meanwhile, road surfaces in the county are deteriorating faster than expected due to incessant rain since the start of the year.

Ms Linehan-Foley claimed Co Cork has for years been given some of the lowest per-kilometre grants for road maintenance by successive governments, and this must stop.

Senior council officials have estimated it would take €800m - €1bn to bring the county’s crumbling road network up to an acceptable standard.

“We need our senior TDs in the region to step up and fight for more money,” Ms Linehan-Foley told a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District Council.

She then praised local council engineers and their outdoor workers for doing ‘loaves and fishes’ miracles with the inadequate finances that they are getting.

Officials informed Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty that they still haven’t received ‘severe weather funding’ from the Government for Storm Babet damage done to some of the roads in the East Cork region, which bore the brunt of the damage nationally.

He was informed by officials that they still don’t know whether they will receive government grant-aid for Storm Babet-damaged roads, which weren't included in the initial allocations, and that the cash-strapped council can’t do much to repair them.

Council engineers said heavy rainfall this year has also impacted their ability to repair roads.

Councillors attending the meeting inundated officials with requests for help with road repairs they’d received from constituents all over the region.

Mr Hegarty was told he could bring in a deputation from the Ladysbridge area to next month’s meeting to outline appalling road conditions in their area.

Ms Linehan-Foley said the road is crumbling at Cork Hill, Youghal, which is a major transport artery in the town. She was informed the council may not have the finances to do this in 2026, and it could be next year before it can addressed.

“We will be lucky if we still have a road there in 2027,” she said.

It emerged last week that almost 1,700 motorists who have damaged their cars on potholed roads in Cork have claimed an average of €224 each from the local authority’s insurers in the past five years.