Government funding for Cork pier upkeep just a 'pittance,' West Cork councillors say

Cork County Council says central government funding for coastal infrastructure is inadequate for the county’s extensive coastline. The council has applied to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for funding for 12 pier, slipway, and pontoon projects in 2026, with a response expected in late May. The available funding for coastal counties totals €4.3 million, but Cork typically receives about €600,000 to €650,000, which would cover only part of the planned projects. Councillors argue the funding is insufficient to complete major works, forcing additional funding applications. They call for increased funding, including doubling the allocation for the next year, due to aging pontoons and harbours under pressure.

"Normally of the €4.3 million made available to the 12 coastal counties we get about €600,000 or €650,000. That might get us halfway down this list,"

"“like the miracle of the loaves and fishes. When you're talking about the funding that's given to the [coastal and marine] department here to do the work, it seems ridiculous considering the length of our coastline. I think we have the longest coastline in the country. Definitely we need to be looking at drawing down more funding.”"

"“Look, it's great to see we have a number of projects in for the DAFM funding but the money we get out of that funding is a pittance to be quite honest. The pontoon for Glengarriff, how much is that going to cost? The funding would cover the bones of maybe a quarter of it.”"

"“I've been saying it here for years that it has to be increased. The money comes and you get whatever, €150,000 or €200,000 for a project, maybe less, and then you go and do the job and you have to apply for some other funding to finish it off. I think we should be sending a letter to the Department of Marine for next year that they would at least double our funding,”"

Read at Irish Independent