Cllr Dominic Finn

07/10/2026

29/09/2026

Recently, I was delighted to welcome Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure and Public Services, Jack Chambers TD, to Cobh.

It was an important opportunity to discuss a wide range of local projects and, importantly, to highlight the future needs and challenges facing our community.

As a member of the Board of Cobh Heritage Centre, I was pleased to show the Minister the plans and vision for the proposed redevelopment of the Centre and to highlight the important role it can play in the future of tourism and heritage in Cobh.

I also brought the Minister to see the new Primary Care Centre in Ticknock, where we viewed the various services being provided and discussed the important role the centre plays in delivering accessible healthcare to the local community.

We also discussed a number of key local issues including:

🚧 The urgent need for a second access road to Great Island, providing the infrastructure and connectivity needed as Cobh and the wider area continue to grow.

🛣️ Investment in road and transport infrastructure

🏫 Education and school accommodation

🚌 Public transport

👮 Additional Garda resources

🏠 Housing delivery

🏥 Access to medical and healthcare services

🏛️ Tourism, heritage and community development

These challenges are not unique to Cobh. Our neighbouring community of Carrigtwohill is experiencing significant growth too, and it is equally important that investment in roads, public transport, healthcare, housing and community infrastructure keeps pace with that growth.

Too often, we are doing things backwards by building houses first and trying to catch up with the necessary infrastructure afterwards. I acknowledge that we need to change this approach.

When planning for significant housing growth, we also need to plan and deliver the roads, schools, public transport, healthcare, community facilities and other essential services that people need from the outset.

Cobh, Great Island and Carrigtwohill have huge potential, but that growth must be properly planned and supported. I will continue to raise these priorities with Government and the relevant agencies and push for the investment that our communities need.

28/09/2026

🚧 RINGMEEN / BALLYLEARY ROAD – RESURFACING 🚧

📆 TUESDAY 29th September 📆

I’m delighted to finally be able to confirm that road resurfacing works will commence TOMORROW - TUESDAY 29th September on the Ringmeen / Top of Ballyleary Road, from the Summerfields entrance down to the Cluain Ard entrance.

The road will be closed to traffic for the duration of 3 days.

Diversions will be in place.

⚠️ There will inevitably be traffic disruption and delays while the works are underway, so I’m asking everyone to please be patient, allow extra time for journeys and, where possible, consider alternative routes once the works commence tomorrow.

Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation while these works are carried out commencing tomorrow. 👍

22/09/2026

MOTION at my recent HSE Forum Meeting.

At our recent HSE South West Regional Health Forum, I raised the issue of the unacceptable long orthodontic waiting lists facing children and young people across Cork.

As of last week, 3,533 children were waiting for an orthodontic assessment across the South West, with a further 1,604 children waiting to commence orthodontic treatment.

Behind every one of those numbers is a young person and a family waiting for care that can have a significant impact on oral health, speech, eating, confidence and overall wellbeing.

I also highlighted that children can be waiting up to five years to receive an initial orthodontic assessment, and in some cases even longer. These are unacceptable delays for young people during crucial stages of their development.

I stressed that early intervention is essential. Treating orthodontic problems at the right stage of a child’s development can prevent more complex issues from arising later. Delays not only affect a child’s oral health and wellbeing but can also result in more complicated treatment needs in adulthood, potentially leaving families facing significant private treatment costs once their child leaves school.

The HSE acknowledged that the current situation is unacceptable and outlined some of the steps being taken to improve the service, including additional treatment clinics, recruitment efforts and waiting list initiatives.

However, there is still no clear timeline for when waiting times will return to acceptable levels.

I called on the HSE to provide greater transparency on waiting times, staffing vacancies, recruitment progress and measurable targets to reduce these waiting lists over the coming months.

Every child deserves timely access to the treatment they need. I will continue to seek regular updates from the HSE over the coming months, and I sincerely hope we begin to see meaningful improvements in waiting times and access to orthodontic care for children and families across Cork.

08/09/2026

🏛️ COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANT SCHEME 2027

A great opportunity for community groups and not-for-profit organisations to secure funding for projects that help protect, celebrate and share Ireland’s rich heritage. 🇮🇪

💶 Grants range from €800 up to €25,000, supporting projects across five key themes:

🔹 Heritage at Risk
🔹 Biodiversity & Nature Restoration 🌿
🔹 Traditional Skills & Conservation
🔹 Digital Heritage, Access & Storytelling 📖
🔹 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

⏰ Important dates:
The Expression of Interest stage opens on 18th September 2026 and closes on 16th October 2026.

If you are involved with a local community group or heritage organisation, this could be a fantastic opportunity to secure funding for a project that will make a real difference in our community and help preserve our heritage for future generations.

📢 I would encourage local groups to start thinking about potential projects now and to take advantage of this funding opportunity when applications open.

An annual grant scheme for community groups and not-for-profit non-governmental organisations to protect, share, and celebrate the heritage that matters to your community.

06/09/2026

It was a great honour to deputise for the Mayor of Cork County on Friday evening and officially open the Spike Island Literary Festival 2026.

It was fantastic to hear from such a wonderful range of authors from across County Cork and right around the country, who shared their books, experiences and the inspiration behind their work. 📚

A huge congratulations to Cobh’s own Michelle Dunne and everyone involved in organising what was a fantastic literary festival. It is wonderful to see an event of this calibre taking place here locally and attracting authors and literary enthusiasts from near and far.

Events like this are a great celebration of literature, creativity and culture, while also showcasing Cobh and Spike Island as a fantastic destination for arts and cultural events.

Well done to everyone who played a part in making the Spike Island Literary Festival 2026 such a great success. 👏📖

02/09/2026

💦 Uisce Éireann announces further local investment of €2 Billion 💦

Uisce Éireann has identified 72 cities, towns and villages across Ireland as priority locations for investment to help unlock new homes and support growing communities.

Both COBH & CARRIGTWOHILL have been selected for further investment.

The selected communities (including Cobh & Carrigtwohill) were identified through a detailed review of national, regional and local development plans, focusing on locations where significant growth is planned and where investment can help unlock housing, support sustainable development and deliver the greatest benefit for communities.

We must continue to ensure that basic and essential services are provided as part of future developments in our community.

15/08/2026

I am deeply disappointed by the decision taken by the HSE Drug Group earlier this week not to approve Skyclarys for people living with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

For those living with this rare and debilitating condition, this is about far more than access to a medication. It is about having access to a treatment that could improve their quality of life and give them hope for the future. I fully understand the frustration and devastation this decision has caused for individuals and families affected by Friedreich’s Ataxia, and I stand firmly with them.

The next meeting of the HSE Senior Management Team is scheduled to take place on 25th August, when the final decision will be made.

As a member of the HSE South-West Regional Health Forum, I am calling on the HSE Senior Management Team to approve Skyclarys at that meeting. I am also calling on An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to intervene in advance of the meeting and support access to this vital treatment for those living with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

We have all seen significant sums of public money wasted on projects in the past. Funding access to Skyclarys would not be money wasted - it would be money well spent. Investing in a treatment that has the potential to slow the progression of this devastating disease and improve people’s quality of life is an investment in patients, families and their future.

Skyclarys is already being publicly funded in a number of other European countries. Ireland should not allow people living with Friedreich’s Ataxia to fall behind their European counterparts. We need to follow the lead of those countries and ensure Irish patients have access to the same life-changing treatment.

People living with Friedreich’s Ataxia have already waited long enough. They deserve timely access to Skyclarys and the opportunity to benefit from a treatment that could make a meaningful difference to their lives.

I sincerely hope that the HSE Senior Management Team will make the right decision on 25th August and approve access to Skyclarys for everyone living with Friedreich’s Ataxia who could benefit from it.