The overall objective is to develop a public road network adequate to cater for the ever increasing volume of modern traffic and to provide the necessary infrastructure to support economic and social development, with due regard for the safety and amenity of all road users. Public road means a road over which a public right-of-way exists and the responsibility for the maintenance of which lies on a road authority.

Roads are classified as follows:

• National Primary: Major long distance through routes linking the principal ports, airports, cities and large towns.
  
• National Secondary: Medium distance through routes connecting important towns and linking to the national primary routes.
  
• Regional Roads are the main feeder routes into, and provide the main links between, national roads
  
• Local Roads include all rural and urban roads other than national or regional roads.

Midleton Town Council has responsibility for the Local Roads in the Urban District of Midleton. Cork County Council is responsible for the Regional Roads through Midleton.

Midleton Town Council has two broad functions in relation to roads

• the maintenance and repair of existing urban roads
  
• the construction of new urban roads