Business representative body Cork Chamber says the county's housing shortage is being exacerbated by delays in the delivery of the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy route, as progress on this and other essential routes in the county "is not moving fast enough".
The delay is also hampering the development of the Port of Cork as it moves its facilities from the city to Ringaskiddy, according to Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy.
"The new Cork to Ringaskiddy road is critical to opening up the docklands in Cork to housing development, and enabling the port to move its operations completely to Ringaskiddy," Mr Healy said.
It is a project, he said, that needs to be delivered by 2026 but indications are that despite the announcement recently of €19 million towards the upgrade, the key route will not start until after this date given the "current rate of progress".
"We want to see this project accelerated," Mr Healy said.
"It holds the key to solving the housing shortage in the city and enabling the port to become a global hub and support our trade and energy ambitions".
The project, along with the N25 Midleton upgrade and interchange, are "absolutely crucial for the economic development of Cork," he added.
Funding for the two projects is part of €83 million allocated to a number of road projects in the county last month following a national announcement on road plans under the 2023 Grant Allocations to Local Authorites for National Roads, Active Travel and Greenways.
Also included was funding of €39 million for the Ballyvourney to Macroom bypass, as well as €800,000 earmarked for the Castlemartyr and Killeagh bypass in east Cork.
Read more: Group challenging decision to upgrade N28 to motorway status
Separately, plans for the N/M20 Cork to Limerick route linking the country's second and third biggest cities have been updated to include 80 kilometres of walking and cycling infrastructure, according to Limerick City and County Council.
These will connect the communities of Cork, Blarney, Grenagh, Rathduff, Mallow, New Twopothouse, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree, Banogue, Croom, Patrickswell and Limerick.
Nine new separated junctions have also been identified to connect the route with the communities of Blarney, Rathduff/Grenagh, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree and Croom, as well as a connection to the N20 at Attyflin near Patrickswell.
The project which is at Stage Three - Design and Environmental Evaluation, was allocated €5 million for 2023.
Phase Three could take up to two years to complete at which point formal planning permission can be submitted to An Bord Pleanála, subject to Government approval.
