A WEST Cork councillor said they may as well be writing to Santa Claus when it comes to seeking vital funding to improve accident black spots on the N71, while another councillor said the route should instead be known as the ‘Neglected N71.’
Plans for future measures at dangerous bends and junctions on the much-used national road were discussed at a recent West Cork Municipal District meeting.
Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) said the N71 no longer deserved its national road title. Due to a lack of funding, Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) suggested it should instead be known as the ‘Neglected 71’.
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Cllr Sexton proposed a motion for road surfacing works between the junctions with the L8016 Bohonagh and L8020 Knocknageehy.
He said the road at this section of the N71 was subsiding to the left and right, warning that it was an accident waiting to happen, if the issue was left unaddressed.
Cllr Joe Carroll said he attended a recent meeting between Cork councillors and officials at Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in Dublin and was appalled at how the delegation was treated. Cllr Carroll said he believed that the N71 and West Cork were no priorities for TII.
‘We could write to TII about the issue but we might as well be writing to Santa Claus,’ said Cllr Carroll
Senior executive engineer John Ahern said a meeting between TII officials and a deputation of Cork County Council including representatives from the West Cork MD took place at the end of October where it is understood that this matter was discussed.
‘While TII are aware of the request, resurfacing works are undertaken on a priority basis as funding allows. We await funding allocations for 2026,’ he said.
Cllr Daniel Sexton also called on Cork County Council to write to TII and the Minister for Transport, requesting that the N71 Newmills Owenahincha realignment would be included in any upcoming funding.
Another road safety proposal came from Cllr Brendan McCarthy (FG) who called for redesign works on dangerous bends at Curraghlickey, Drinagh, which had seen frequent accidents.
Cork County Council said the section of road has been included in a list of schemes earmarked for funding applications under the 2026 Low Cost Safety Improvement Programme.
