Residents clash with council over road maintenance
Carlow county buildings
RESIDENTS in the townlands of Craan and Kilbrannish have accused Carlow County Council of abandoning its responsibilities by refusing to maintain a short stretch of road they insist has long been treated as public.
The residents argue that planning permissions granted in 2004 and 2005 imposed strict road safety conditions and required development contributions “in respect of public roads which will facilitate the proposed development”. They say this created a legitimate expectation that the road was public and would be maintained accordingly.
They also point to what they say is decades of works carried out by the council, including routine repairs, significant investment in bridge repairs, and the erection of official road signage such as a T-junction warning and a speed limit sign. Under the , speed limits apply only to public roads.
“Residents have in the utmost of good faith paid their contributions, met every planning condition, and watched as Carlow County Council repaired and signposted this road for years. Now, without justification, they tell us it is private,” said local resident James Murphy.
Mr Murphy said residents reject suggestions that they apply for support under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), arguing it would “force them to pay twice” for a road they believe was already covered by development contributions. “A speed limit sign cannot lawfully exist on a private road, nor can a council collect contributions for ‘public roads’ and then abandon them,” he claimed.
Responding to queries from , Carlow County Council said the road in question “is a private road and not in the charge of Carlow County Council”.
The Roads Department said residents have lobbied for resurfacing for more than 15 years, with delegations meeting the director of services and local representatives on site. It added that an extract from the road management office map road asset management system, along with historical road schedule documents, confirms “the road is not nor never has been in the charge of Carlow County Council”.
The council said the only avenue for works is through the LIS, a Department of Rural and Community Development programme, and that the road would qualify under the scheme. Application forms and details have been provided “on a number of occasions”, the spokesperson added.
“The Local Improvement Scheme is a fantastic scheme supporting rural communities for upgrade on rural roads and laneways,” the council stated. It confirmed that following an August announcement of €14 million in additional funding nationally, Carlow’s 2025 LIS allocation had almost doubled to €690,000, supporting works on 27 rural roads and laneways this year.
Residents say they feel ignored by councillors and TDs and believe the road’s position near the Carlow-Wexford border has contributed to a lack of accountability. They maintain that the council’s refusal to take responsibility is “dismissive and contemptuous”.
“This is not just about one stretch of tarmac – it’s about fairness, accountability and public trust,” Mr Murphy said.
The council maintains its position that the road has never been a public road and that the LIS remains the only mechanism available for improvement works.
