Cork County Council Receives €2.3 Million for Rural Road Upgrades

Cork County Council has been allocated €2,331,377 to upgrade rural roads and laneways across the county, following the announcement of an additional €14 million in national funding by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD.

The funding boost, confirmed today (Thursday, 7 August), brings Cork's total allocation for 2025 to €2,331,377, comprising an original allocation of €1,163,479 plus supplementary funding of €1,167,898. The investment forms part of a record €30 million national allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme: the highest annual funding level since the scheme was reintroduced in 2017.

Welcoming the allocation, Fine Gael Senator Eileen Lynch said the investment will improve access to rural homes, farms and outdoor amenities throughout Cork.

Senator Lynch said:

"It's great to see over €2.3m allocated to Cork County Council for rural road improvements. We all know a road or laneway across the county that is in real need of an upgrade."

The Local Improvement Scheme targets non-public roads in rural communities that are not normally maintained by local authorities but represent vital infrastructure for rural residents. Since its reintroduction in 2017, over 20,000 landowners and rural residents nationally have benefited, with more than 4,800 roads upgraded.

Minister Calleary said:

"I am delighted to have secured a further €14 million for the Scheme which almost doubles our investment this year. This additional funding demonstrates my commitment to improving connectivity for rural residents: whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities."

Cork County Council will identify and prioritise roads for improvement works in consultation with local residents and landowners. All works must be completed by 31 December 2025. The allocations are based on the level of works each local authority indicated they could complete before year end.

Eligible roads include non-public roads providing access to parcels of land owned or occupied by at least two different people, with one used for agricultural purposes. Roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers and mountains also qualify. Roads serving only houses not engaged in agriculture or leading to commercial enterprises are not eligible.

From the winding boreens of West Cork to the laneways of North Cork's farming heartland, the funding will address long-standing access issues affecting daily life for rural residents.

Senator Lynch added:

"We are dedicated to improving connectivity for rural residents. I look forward to seeing how this additional funding is used to improve our rural roads across Cork."

With this year's investment, the Government will have allocated almost €184 million to upgrading rural roads and laneways across the country since 2017.