Cork councillors angry after millions of euro of promised vital road projects in Cork withdrawn
On Continually Tyres Said Were Drivers Roads Damaging Councillors Potholed Badly
County councillors have expressed anger after millions of euro of promised vital road projects in Co Cork was withdrawn by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
The council had just appointed a contractor to carry out a €2m upgrade of a heavily potholed section of the N72 between Clonbanin Cross, southwest of Kanturk, and Rathmore.
It was also about to issue a tender for a €450,000 for the retarring of Patrick St, Fermoy, but has been forced to stop work on it and other proposed projects because of the TII decision.
The roads authority does not have enough funding to carry projects it had promised to finance, the councillors were told.
Senior council officials have told the withdrawal of funding was extremely disappointing, while councillors have reacted angrily to the news.
Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Moynihan, who represents the Duhallow area where the N72 upgrade was planned, said the last time it was properly tarred was 30 years ago.
“It’s a national secondary road. It’s in a brutal condition. Council crews are constantly trying to patch it. The council was told at the beginning of this year that funding was in place. Now, having appointed a contractor to do the work, we are told the funding is not there,” he said.
Mr Moynihan said this was disadvantaging the Duhallow area and motorists would continue to damage tyres on the road.
“There is a B&B on this road and the owner’s husband is constantly taking guests into local tyre centre to get new tyres,” he added.
Fermoy-based Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy said the town’s main street, Patrick St, was a disgrace.
“It has been deteriorating for the past three years. It is an embarrassment. Businesspeople and taxi drivers have had enough,” he said.
Mr McCarthy and local councillors were informed at a special meeting earlier this week by senior council officials that the money had been withheld.
“We’re not accepting this. We are looking for a meeting with TII and minister for transport Eamon Ryan to discuss this. We are also seeking support from the four TDs in the constituency,” he said.
Council officials also confirmed a number of other proposed projects had been put on hold by TII.
They include a €1.6m retarring project on the N71 from Ballylickey, near Bantry, to Dromkeal, and the appointment of advisers to progress the design for the completion of the Bandon bypass and the realignment of the N71 between Newmills and Owenahincha.
The council had hoped to put the Ballylickey to Dromkeal project out to tender in the next couple of months.
Council officials said it was “particularly disappointing” the funding had been pulled as the council had put a lot of work into detailed designs of the various projects.
There was no comment from TII on the issue.