Taoiseach hails budget as 'significant for Cork' with boost to rail and roads

Budget 2026 is “significant for Cork”, with funding allocated towards major projects and initiatives that will benefit the city enormously, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Martin said the budget reinforces the Government’s commitment to progressing major transport infrastructure projects, including phase one of the Cork Area Commuter Rail and the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road.

“These will be transformational in terms of connectivity,” he said.

“Also, the improved Living City initiative will be an important measure for Cork, and will be key to enhancing and breathing new life into the city centre.”

The budget also contains a commitment of funding for the Crawford Art Gallery, along with €3m in funding to support the establishment of League of Ireland football academies across the country.

“The Crawford Art Gallery is a national cultural institution, with over 3,000 works of historical and contemporary visual art,” said Mr Martin.

“The commitment to commence the major redevelopment of the gallery is a major boost for the arts in Cork.”

He said he was “passionate” about sport and welcomed funding for the football academies. “I particularly hope that this funding will help Cork City FC nurture young talent to continue its success into the future.”

Meanwhile, Mr Martin, who has come under sustained criticism following the shock withdrawal of Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin on Sunday, strongly defended his handling of the controversy.

Mr Martin said he was “very, very disappointed” with the events surrounding Mr Gavin’s withdrawal from the presidential election campaign but “we acted in good faith in terms of trying to do the best for the party.

“Jim Gavin had very strong credentials in terms sporting and military achievements as a peacekeeper, and his role in [Dublin’s] north-east inner city,” Mr Martin said.

“I understand how hurt party members are, but I look forward to engaging with parliamentary party members tonight.” 

He said he believed the selection of Mr Gavin “should be reviewed”, but he rejected some commentary as “simply inaccurate”.

He said that “at no stage” did any TD approach him with suggestions for candidates, and he claimed Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher had not approached him over the summer to say he wanted to run for president, with the Taoiseach eventually contacting Mr Kelleher.

Rejecting the description of Mr Gavin as “a complete novice”, Mr Martin said people needed to be “cautious” about “the herd” saying only a politician could be president.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticised the budget, with Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty accusing ministers of abandoning election pledges and “giving nothing” to those impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

“When all the clapping is done, when all the back-slapping is over and the Government benches die down, when all of the spin that we have heard, the bluster, the deluded arrogance that has come dripping from both ministers’ speeches, ordinary people, where are they?

“They are left in the cold,” he said.