Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has broken ground on a new community centre in Rylane, Co. Cork, marking the start of construction on Saturday, 29 November 2025.

The single-storey facility, to be built on a greenfield site in the village, carries a total cost of €2 million, with up to €1.8 million coming from the Department's Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF).

CCIF backs the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community centres as well as the development of new facilities where a need is identified. Since 2022, more than €110 million has been provided nationally for such works, including over €10.7 million for almost 190 projects in Co. Cork.

Speaking in Rylane, Minister Calleary said: "I am delighted to be here today in Rylane as we turn the sod for construction to start on this wonderful centre. This new community space will include a multi-purpose community hall, meeting rooms, a community dining area and a range of services to support greater community use.

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Minister Calleary added: "My Department is providing up to €1.8 million for this facility. This project will provide a range of locally based social, recreational, cultural, civic and educational activities as well as opportunities for people to volunteer, which is at the heart of community life."

Minister Calleary concluded: "I want to commend the community here in Rylane who, with support from IRD Duhallow, will now realise their ambition to see this project become a reality. This development will support the community in becoming more sustainable and resilient and will provide much needed space for the people of Rylane and indeed further afield.

He continued: "I also want to acknowledge my colleague in the Department, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer, who I know worked very closely with IRD Duhallow on this and other projects.

Minister Calleary said: "I very much look forward to returning in the not-too-distant future to see the centre completed. It will no doubt be transformative for the wider community for generations to come."

Under the CCIF New Build Measure, grants range from €1 million to €6 million for multi-functional centres. Twelve projects were approved in April 2024 with funding of more than €30 million. Further details on programmes administered by the Department are available at www.gov.ie/drcdg.