960. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to advise on the way in which funding of €5 million for the new SÍOL Programme for 2026 will be rolled out; when projects are required to be submitted from councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53608/26]

I was delighted to launch the SÍOL programme last week on the 8th July 2026. SÍOL, which translates to ‘Seed’ in English, stands for Scéim Infheistíochta ag Obair Le Chéile, and this translates to the ‘Working Together Investment Scheme’. Capital funding of €31.5 million has been secured up to 2030 in the National Development Plan to support the new SÍOL programme.

The programme aims to deliver supports such as community safety projects, public realms works, projects to support health and wellbeing initiatives, and projects that support access to education and training, while targeting the supports to the urban areas with the highest concentration of disadvantage.

The new programme uses an evidence base including the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, information from the CSO report Urban and Rural Life in Ireland and research by the ESRI. In addition, the programme takes into consideration the areas in Ireland covered by the CLÁR programme to ensure geographical complementarity. Priority is given to those small areas with the highest population of extreme disadvantage, and the scheme is designed to provide similar supports to these areas that is given to rural areas through schemes such as CLÁR.

15 areas have been designated as SÍOL areas, and there will be €5 million funding available to these areas in 2026. Further information on the programme is available on my Department's website including the full list of SÍOL areas and the Electoral Divisions that comprise them.

A Call for Proposals issued to all local authorities with responsibility for SÍOL areas on 8 July 2026 and the deadline for the submission of applications for funding is 14 August 2026.

Local Authorities should develop projects in partnership with the local community. This could involve Local Authorities engaging with communities, LDCs and other Government Agencies in the relevant area to ensure that the most suitable projects are identified. Local Authorities will be required to have a named official in the Local Authority to co-ordinate and submit the applications for projects.

My Department expects to announce the successful projects in late 2026 and all projects must be completed within 18 months of approval.