Cork greenway maintenance under threat without funding injection

Greenways and cycleways being developed all over Co Cork could fall into disrepair and become unsafe and unusable if cash-strapped district councils cannot afford to maintain them.

County councillors are expected to give unanimous cross-party backing for a motion calling on the Government to ensure they get proper annual funding for maintenance.

Fine Gael councillor Úna McCarthy is to table a motion to write to the transport minister Darragh O'Brien requesting the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to establish ringfenced funding for the ongoing maintenance of greenways and active travel infrastructure, including cycling and pedestrian facilities. 

She said this funding should be allocated to local authorities on a sustainable, multi-annual basis. Ms McCarthy said NTA and TII provide substantial capital investment for active travel projects.

“However, there's currently no equivalent ring-fenced, long-term maintenance stream to match that capital funding. If national agencies can fund construction, then they must also commit to supporting the maintenance,” she said.

She said in her Carrigaline municipal district, there is significant investment in greenways and cycle paths.

“They’re well-constructed and a great amenity for the area. One such cycle path runs directly through Heron’s Wood housing estate (Carrigaline). I’ve been working closely with the residents’ association and the council to ensure the contractor maintains the pathway to an acceptable standard. Unfortunately, that maintenance by the contractor is only for a limited period post-construction,” she said.

Ms McCarthy pointed out that once this expires, responsibility transfers to the council, and the cost falls on an already stretched area office maintenance budget.

“That same budget is expected to cover maintenance of all general open spaces within the municipal district. There's no additional stream of funding provided by central government set aside for the long-term upkeep of this new infrastructure. Without dedicated funding, we risk seeing these valuable assets deteriorate simply because there is no sustainable financial plan in place,” she said.

Ms McCarthy said they can’t adopt a ‘build and forget approach".

“If greenways and cycle lanes aren't properly maintained, surfaces deteriorate, drainage issues develop, lighting fails and vegetation encroaches. Ultimately, safety is compromised. When that happens, public confidence is undermined and active travel use declines. It’s neither right nor fair that residents living alongside these cycle paths could be left to watch them deteriorate over time,” she added.