The Minister for Transport allocated a total of €42,496,500 for restoration improvement and maintenance for roads, with €1,887,840 dedicated to bridge rehabilitation works.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O Sullivan stated, said: "I am pleased that this year’s allocation is broadly consistent with the 2023 allocation which represented one of the most significant years of funding investment in Cork roads in recent times. While the overall allocation is positive, the allocation under the ‘Specific Improvement Grants’ category sees six of the proposed eleven priority projects being approved for funding this year. Funding to Cork County Council in this category is reduced by 33%, meaning many priority projects which were capable of being advanced will not now proceed in 2024."
"Having regard to the scale of devastation that occurred, particularly in East Cork, the allocation of €13m falls under what is required to deliver essential repairs programme countywide. The funding received is disappointing and will inevitably result in a situation whereby the county road network is deteriorating further instead of improving. Temporary repairs were carried out at many locations on the basis that the roads could be re-opened, albeit with a temporary and substandard driving surface. It is now inevitable that these roads will remain in a substandard and unacceptable state for some time to come. We are absolutely committed to continuing proactive engagement with the Department of Transport to obtain an enhanced severe weather allocation, specifically in response to Storm Babet, during the coming year."
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The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O Flynn said:
"This investment is essential in ensuring safe connectivity across our local and regional road network. It will benefit towns, villages and communities throughout the county by further enhancing connectivity, supporting businesses and making it easier and safer to travel. I am however disappointed at such a low level of grant allocation being received to assist with the Storm Babet repairs programme and will support further engagement with the Department of Transport. Senior Government representatives who travelled to Midleton in October 2023 committed to making the necessary funding and resources available to address the damage, these commitments need to be adhered for Midleton and the wider East Cork area."
This year's allocation also includes a severe weather grant of €13m to address the effects of recent severe weather and to carry out essential repairs and road restoration works in the aftermath of Storm Babet. This is the first funding allocation made to the Council to enable road repairs to commence. Having prepared a comprehensive and thorough repairs programme on a countywide basis, the Council estimated the cost of restoration works to reach €50m.
