Lack of funding for road upgrades 'frustrating beyond belief', Cork councillors told

'Carrigtwohill, Midleton and the wider East Cork area is being held back in terms of critical infrastructure which, if it was provided, would open up lands for economic development, job creation, housing development etc.' Picture: Denis Minihane

The chief executive of Cork County Council has described a dearth of county road funding as “indefensible” that flies in the face of the Government's ambition to develop the regions as a counterbalance to Dublin.

Valerie O’Sullivan said the decision not to fund the upgrade of the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Midleton "beggars belief" as it would open up land in East Cork for economic development, job creation and further housing.

The council needs to upgrade the road to facilitate the planned new 10,000-person town at Waterrock to the east of Midleton and to open up the former Amgen site at Ballyadam in Carrigtwohill.

The council’s director of roads and transportation Niall Healy claimed the infrastructure in that area "is already creaking".

He called it "frustrating beyond belief” the upgrade project was not progressing as the county council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland had invested considerable time and money to date in devising a new route alignment.

This will involve straightening and widening the road and creating a number of flyovers which will service Waterrock, Ballyadam and other land in the area earmarked for development.

Funding denied

“Public consultation was held in 2021 on the upgrade. The next step was to apply for planning. This hasn’t happened because the minister (for transport Eamon Ryan) wouldn’t provide funding in 2022, 2023 or 2024. That’s three consecutive years where funding has been applied for and denied. 

"This means that Carrigtwohill, Midleton and the wider East Cork area is being held back in terms of critical infrastructure which, if it was provided, would open up lands for economic development, job creation, housing development etc,” Mr Healy said.

The road currently has 40,000 vehicles using it daily.

“The future development, growth and expansion of the county hinges on investment by Government in the N25 Dunkettle to Midleton corridor,” he added.

Mr Healy pointed out the Ballyadam site was fully serviced and ready for industrial occupation.

“Such serviced sites are few and far between. But little can be done with it without proper access,” he said.

Mr Healy said it was clear the current baseline quality of regional and local roads across the county falls far short of the standard that is demanded by residents, businesses and visitors alike.

“The continued deterioration and structural degradation of our county road network is an impediment in the council’s efforts to promote investment and drive the sustainable economic development of our county towns and villages,” he said.

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Independent councillor Karen Coakley said some of the roads in West Cork were in such a bad condition that refuse companies were refusing to send their lorries to customers living along them.

Fine Gael councillor John O’Sullivan said: “If we are to entice foreign direct investment, proper roads are critical, otherwise we haven’t a hope in hell of getting those industries."