Two more roads added to programme in Bboro-Cootehill

Two local roads have been added from 2026 to this year’s Roadworks Programme in the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District to make use of additional funding received by Cavan County Council.

They include the R165 in Bailieborough from the Kingscourt Roundabout to Main Street to link up with other works scheduled for Barrack Street; and the L7589 Drumoylat link road.

Area Manager, Clinton Mulligan, told the meeting at the newly redeveloped Station Master’s House in Kingscourt last Monday, March 24, that the area had received a slight increase in funding on last year’s €3.5M allocation.

It gave the MD scope to move forward two roads from the 2026 to 2025, proposed by Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly, and seconded by Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady.

“If we get equivalent funding in 2026, we could bring 2027 roads forward,” he told the meeting of local elected members.

Newly installed chair of the MD, Sinn Féin’s Stiofán Conaty, said, while the move was welcome, “we all know we need more money” and that the current level of funding when the condition of roads were taken into account was simply “not good enough”.

“We know the council’s hands are tied in terms of resources.”

Fine Gael’s Val Smith said that it is local councillors who are “getting it in the neck” when the pressure should be on national politicians who hold the strings to the purse.

“We’re all fighting for our own little corner. I appreciate what the executive is doing.”

Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Kelly was in agreement. There needs to be more roads funding, he said, adding that it would be good if the council could keep chipping away at the list of works needed a year in advance.

Niall Smith (FF), meanwhile, highlighted the need for patching on Shercock’s Main Street towards the school. The issue had been raised with Cllr Kelly also and both asked if something could be done in the interests of “safety” in advance of more extensive repairs taking place.