Funding for Ballinasloe among other towns in new initiative to tackle disadvantage

by Navjyoti Dalal

Ballinasloe is to benefit from a new programme to provide funding for initiatives in urban areas with the highest concentration of disadvantage was announced today (Wednesday).

Ballinasloe is one among the 15 beneficiary towns of this programme, which was announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer, and Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Seán Canney.

Named SÍOL, which translates to seed in English, the new programme stands for Scéim Infheistíochta ag Obair Le Chéile, which means ‘Working Together Investment Scheme’. The programme is created to deliver projects that improve public spaces, support health and wellbeing and community safety. It will also provide access to education and training for people living in some of the most disadvantaged urban areas of the country.

Ballinasloe is among the 15 towns that will benefit from the scheme. The precise areas to be included in the scheme are Ballinasloe urban, rural, Killure and Aughrim. The full list of beneficiaries comprises Athy, Ballinasloe, Ballina, Ballymun, Cavan town, Clondalkin, Cork City North East, Cork City North West, Drogheda, Galway City, North Limerick City, South West Inner City, Tallaght, Tipperary Town, and Waterford City.

While a capital funding of €31.5 million has been secured up to 2030 in the National Development Plan to maintain the long-term delivery of the scheme, €5 million was announced on Wednesday to support the above mentioned 15 areas in 2026, including nine located in cities.

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht will issue a Call for Proposals to local authorities with responsibility for areas that are eligible for funding under the SÍOL programme. Local authorities will be invited to submit projects to the department for approval, and it is expected that the successful projects will be announced in late 2026

Announcing the new programme today, Minister Calleary said: “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.”