Cork council to spend €1.425bn on major projects over three years with main focus on housing
Of the €563.8m housing budget, the biggest expenditure will go on creating more social housing (€215m). Affordable housing has been allocated €79.3m, along with cost-rental schemes. File picture: Dan Linehan
More than €1.425bn is to be spent by Cork County Council on major infrastructure projects in the next three years, which will primarily focus on providing more housing and improving road networks.
Housing is the major spend in the 2026-2029 capital programme, with a planned investment of €563.8m.
This is followed by roads and transportation at €461.3m. In addition, the council is setting aside €152m for town regeneration, which will include getting derelict properties back in use.
Coastal protection and flood prevention projects have been allocated nearly €94m.
Council bosses say they recognise housing remains a key challenge and this is why 39% of money in the three-year plan is being allocated to it.
Of the €563.8m budget, the biggest expenditure will go on creating more social housing (€215m). Affordable housing has been allocated €79.3m, along with cost-rental schemes.
Cost-rental schemes provide homes at below the private market rental value, and will be provided in areas of high demand like Cobh, Carrigaline, and Midleton.
Normally, these homes are 25% below the average private rental charge. Areas also identified for them include Carrigtwohill, Ringaskiddy and Watergrasshill.
The council has set aside a further €110.1m for projects it will undertake in association with voluntary housing bodies, with these schemes likely to be built in Mitchelstown, Bandon and Youghal.
In addition, it is to spend €97m on turnkey properties. These will be built for the council by private developers.
The main social houses schemes will be in Kinsale, Charleville and Broomfield, and Midleton. The turnkey developments will serve places like Fermoy and Newmarket.
The main areas identified for affordable housing projects are in Mallow, Midleton and Clonakilty, although the report says they will be built in smaller numbers right across the county.
The council says the major investment in regional and local road schemes, along with upgrading public realms "will bring greater economic resilience to the county’s towns and villages by enhancing infrastructure assets".
Of the €461.3m earmarked for this, €351.1m will go on six national primary and national secondary roads in the region, including major schemes such as the Cork to Ringaskiddy route.
However, resurfacing improvements are planned at various other locations across the roads network. Cork has the largest roads network of any county, covering more than 12,000km.
The remainder of the money will be spent on specific improvement schemes, traffic-calming measures, taking in charge of estates and bridge realignments.
Food relief projects have been earmarked €78.1m, while coastal protection gets €15.6m.
Midleton, Skibbereen and Bantry will swallow up the majority of the flood relief money.
Proposed coastal protection works will include extensions and repairs to existing infrastructure and pier improvement works. Cliff stabilisation is also included.
The €154.6m set aside under the community services budget will fund further recreational amenities across the county. It will include new walkways and playgrounds The council has also recognised many communities are running out of burial plots.
Money has been set aside to address this in Dromina, Skibbereen and Mogeely, Killeagh and Templemartin in Bandon. A major countywide review of burial capacity will take place next year.
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