County councillors seek infrastructure audit for rapidly expanding East Cork town

A sustainability infrastructure audit looks set to be carried out in one of county Cork’s fastest-growing towns amid concerns that it will be unable to cope with a projected surge in population.

Growing concerns have been raised that Carrigtwohill is already grinding to a halt because of inadequate physical and social infrastructure, with facilities struggling to meet the needs of its existing population, let alone the projected growth in the years ahead.

Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry, who lives in the expanding town, secured unanimous cross-party support for the audit at a meeting of Cobh Municipal District Council, which governs the Carrigtwohill area.

Mr Barry said Carrigtwohill’s population currently stands at nearly 7,000. Until relatively recently, it was a village, but its population is expected to reach 10,000 within five years and at least 13,000 within 10 years.

“They’ve been promises of new roads, new sports pitches and parks. But that is all they are, just promises,” he added.

Detailed infrastructure audits

Mr Barry said other local authorities carry out detailed infrastructure audits, such as the one he and his fellow councillors are seeking, to ensure deficits are addressed as populations grow. 

He cited Kildare as a prime example but acknowledged that Cork County Council does not have the same resources.

Kildare has a dedicated team to deal with infrastructure sustainability issues.

“It is far smaller and has a smaller roads network to maintain and a far bigger population. Cork County Council for its size is not getting the money it needs for central government,” Mr Barry said.

“The only reason all this house building is going on in the Carrigtwohill area is that it happens to be on the (designated growth) railway corridor. That is not, though, a justification for building thousands of houses without the proper infrastructure being put in place."

Mr Barry also said Cobh Municipal District Council was not receiving its fair share of central council funding for the services it has to provide.

The district has one of the largest ratepaying bases outside Dublin. County Hall officials offered the local municipal council around €8m to run its services next year, but councillors unanimously rejected the allocation.

Council officials said they would ask the Economic Development and Strategic Planning Directorate to address the issues raised.