Six Cork Communities To Benefit From New SÍOL Urban Investment Scheme

A new government funding programme aimed at tackling extreme disadvantage in urban areas has been announced, with six Cork communities among those set to benefit.

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht confirmed on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, that a new scheme called SÍOL will fund projects in urban areas with the highest concentration of disadvantage. The announcement was made jointly by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities Jerry Buttimer TD, and Minister of State in the Department of Transport Seán Canney TD.

SÍOL stands for Scéim Infheistíochta ag Obair Le Chéile, which translates as the Working Together Investment Scheme. The name SÍOL itself means Seed in English.

Fifteen areas nationally will receive €5 million in funding in 2026, with nine of those located in cities. Capital funding of €31.5 million has been secured up to 2030 under the National Development Plan to support the scheme's long term delivery.

In Cork, six communities have been included under two designated SÍOL areas. Cork City North East covers Mayfield, The Glen and Blackpool, while Cork City North West covers Knocknaheeny, Churchfield and Gurranabraher.

The scheme is designed to deliver community safety projects, public realm works, and initiatives supporting health and wellbeing, education and training, targeted at the areas of highest need.

Minister Dara Calleary, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht:

"I am delighted to announce the new SÍOL programme today which will provide a solid foundation for ongoing targeted investment in urban areas where there is the most extreme disadvantage.

Since I was appointed as Minister in this Department, it has been one of my key priorities to implement a programme that tackles urban disadvantage. Working on the previous RAPID model, SÍOL, will make real differences in communities that need it most.

The name SÍOL means 'Seed' and, much like a seed, it is my hope that the SÍOL programme will grow in the coming years to help more and more communities across the country."

Minister of State Jerry Buttimer, with responsibility for Community Development and Charities:

"In my 22 years as a public representative, I have seen first-hand how initiatives like this can have a profound, positive effect on communities that need it most. Interventions like this are a catalyst for momentum in building community.

This programme is designed to provide investment into the communities that need it most. The local knowledge and expertise that will help deliver the programme will ensure that the funding is targeted to develop the community facilities and amenities that will have the most impact at a local level.

A seed doesn't become a thriving plant overnight. It grows with care, commitment and patience. The funding that has been secured in the National Development Plan to support this new programme shows this Government's commitment to growing the programme in a sustainable manner over time."

Minister of State Seán Canney, Department of Transport:

"It gives me great pleasure to join my colleagues across Government to launch the SÍOL programme today. The name of this new programme translates to the 'Working Together Investment Scheme' and I think it epitomises how we operate as a Government; all parties working together to achieve a shared outcome.

Having previously served as Minister of State in the Department of Rural and Community Development, I know first-hand the importance of investing in developing our urban communities.

This new programme will deliver much needed investment into the areas that need it most, and I look forward to seeing the impact that it will have over the coming years."

The programme's design was informed by data from the Central Statistics Office and Pobal's deprivation index, alongside analysis from the ESRI on urban and rural life in Ireland.

The Department will issue a Call for Proposals to local authorities responsible for the eligible areas, with successful projects expected to be announced in late 2026.

Elsewhere, SÍOL areas have been designated in Athy, Ballinasloe, Ballina, Ballymun, Cavan Town, Clondalkin, Drogheda, Galway City, north Limerick city, south west inner city Dublin, Tallaght, Tipperary Town and Waterford City.

The scheme follows the model of the previous RAPID programme, which ran from 2001 until it closed to new applications in 2011. A recast version ran from 2017 before merging with the Community Facilities Scheme in 2019 to form what is now the Local Enhancement Programme.