Neighbourhoods are the ‘building blocks’ of the city
An innovative new digital hub has been launched that gives people across the city better access to information about their neighbourhoods.
The Neighbourhood Profiles Digital Hub, launched by Cork City Council, is an online tool that uses the most recent Census data to show what life looks like in each part of Cork. It covers important details such as population, housing, jobs, education, and commuting patterns. For the first time, this information is presented in a way that is easy to use and explore online.
The aim is simple: to help communities, planners, and local groups understand their areas better and to give people the tools to take part in planning for the future.
This new hub gives a clear profile of 44 neighbourhoods across the city. By using the hub, anyone can spot patterns and trends, helping with decision-making and long-term planning.
The hub is designed to be user-friendly and engaging. It makes it possible for local groups, academics, and residents to access rich data about their neighbourhoods with just a few clicks.
The hub was officially launched at City Hall by the Lord Mayor of Cork Fianna Fáil Cllr Fergal Dennehy. At the event, community groups, residents’ associations, planners, and City Council staff got a chance to see the tool in action.
Valerie O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Cork City Council, said the hub shows the council’s commitment to community-led planning.
“Putting our communities at the centre of decision-making is really important for our city. We are proud to be leading in neighbourhood planning and seeing other cities adopt this approach. Cork has a strong network of neighbourhoods where people can access local services close to home. This new hub makes the profiles more accessible to everyone.”
Niall Ó Donnabháin, Director of Planning and Integrated Development at Cork City Council, highlighted the importance of the new tool.
"Neighbourhoods are the building blocks of our city. They are always changing and shaping how Cork looks, feels, and works. This new hub brings together the digital and analytical tools we use for decision-making and makes them available to everyone – not just the council, but also in areas like health, education, and transport. It’s a public tool that all can use.”
The Cork City Development Plan 2022–2028 highlights the city’s historic and emerging neighbourhoods. The new hub supports this by offering data that shows the real character and needs of each community.
Cork City Council will host an online tutorial in the autumn to help community groups learn how to use the hub.
The Neighbourhood Profiles Digital Hub is free to use and available now through the Cork City Council website.
This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.