Minister responds to boycott

Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien believes the boycott by some councillors of today's official opening of the N55 Corduff to South of Killydoon road improvement scheme is "more about self-promotion than anything else".

"I don't see what the point is in councillors boycotting an event like this," he said, adding that he "met with" Cavan County Council and the Cathaoirleach at the event.

"I've increased the funding substantially for roads in Cavan and I'll continue to do that, and I'll continue to work with the local authority," he said.

Meanwhile he opined that "maybe they didn't want to be here today" to see the "wonderful scheme that has been delivered".

"I'm quite happy to meet with people, I like to get on with people and work with them so there's no issue there."

Asked if there will be an additional roads allocation for Cavan and Monaghan, the Minister said he said there "will be a further increase next year".

"What I'm looking at doing is further increasing the funding for next year, the year after that right the way to 2030."

"There are counties like Cavan and Monaghan that have specific unique challenges," he said, adding his department will "bridge that gap" on an "incremental basis."

"I will work with every local authority and I have a good relationship with Cavan."

The Department of Transport allocated €19,165,275 to Cavan County Council for roads in 2026, marginally down from €19,193,150 in 2025.

Opposition councillors say the minister’s visit for the ceremonial opening rings hollow while regional and local roads across the Cavan remain in poor condition.

Aontú councillor Adrian Rogers did not attend the event.

“The minister is fully aware of the serious conditions of the roads in Cavan and Monaghan. Yet he still refuses to meet with councillors and address what needs to be done,” he told the Celt.

“There is always time for ribbon cutting and photo ops. But never accountability for crumbling infrastructure. So I am not going to be in a picture today at the opening of a road and so many roads in Cavan in such poor state.”

Independent Ireland councillor Shane P. O’Reilly also criticised the minister’s refusal to engage with local representatives during his visit.

“I find it very disrespectful and indeed disappointing that Minister O’Brien has no time to meet with us to discuss our concerns on roads funding and the state of our network in Co Cavan when he is in the county,” he said.

The Sinn Féin grouping on Cavan County Council - councillors Stiofán Conaty, Damien Brady and Noel Connell - also confirmed they will not attend the opening ceremony.

“Sinn Féin will not be attending the opening of an already-opened road. It is a waste of time,” the group said in a joint statement.

“The minister would be better served working constructively with Cavan Sinn Féin councillors in helping us fix our roads. Instead, he refused a meeting with us and other members of the opposition.

“In fact, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael actually cut funding for roads in Cavan for 2026.”

Local representatives have argued the reduction amounts to an effective cut once inflation and rising construction costs are taken into account.

Councillors have repeatedly highlighted what they describe as a growing infrastructure crisis, with Cavan County Council estimating that up to 1,140 kilometres of local and regional roads require structural restoration and that a funding deficit of approximately €110 million exists to bring the county’s road network up to an acceptable standard.