CIF Southern Construct Summit 2026: Delivering for Cork’s Future

The CIF Southern Construct Summit 2026 brought together industry leaders, policymakers and key stakeholders at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Taking place on Thursday 21st May, a key focus to the day was on a central question: how ready is Cork to deliver on its ambitious growth agenda?

As one of the most important gatherings of the construction sector in the region, the summit centred on Cork’s role as a national growth engine, addressing the critical challenges and opportunities shaping housing, infrastructure and investment delivery.

Speaking at the Southern Construct Summit on the day, Joanne Treacy, CIF’s Southern Region Director, highlighted the strong foundations across the region, while emphasising the need to turn that ambition into tangible progress on the ground. “Cork is a real pivotal point, you know. We have the ambition, we have the vision.”

A clear focus on delivery

Across the day, a consistent theme emerged: the need to move from strategy to delivery. With Cork entering a pivotal decade, driven by population growth, major regeneration projects and climate targets, speakers stressed that coordinated action is now essential.

Opening sessions highlighted the importance of leadership and collaboration in delivering long-term plans such as Cork 2040. Industry, local authorities and state agencies can better align to accelerate project delivery, reduce fragmentation and create more predictable pathways for development.

Infrastructure as a critical enabler

Infrastructure emerged as a key enabler of growth throughout the programme. Discussions focused on the barriers currently impacting delivery – from water capacity and grid connections to transport access and planning delays.

“We’re ready to bring projects both above ground and below ground, water and wastewater, to support the national crisis, which is the need for homes in Ireland,” commented Veronica Harrington, Head of Portfolio Office, Infrastructure Delivery at Uisce Éireann Irish Water, highlighting the organisation’s readiness to play a key role in addressing Ireland’s housing challenges.

Speakers also examined the role of ongoing initiatives such as the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, and whether these measures are sufficient to unlock the next phase of housing and economic development.

Energy resilience and onshore capacity were also highlighted as strategic priorities, reinforcing the link between infrastructure investment and long-term economic stability.

Collaboration across stakeholders

A key takeaway from the summit was the importance of stronger collaboration between public bodies, utilities, contractors and communities. Discussions highlighted the need to build public understanding and support for infrastructure projects, alongside improving coordination between stakeholders to accelerate timelines and reduce risk.

Michael O’Flynn, Chairman and CEO, O’Flynn Group, spoke about the importance of collaboration, saying: “Whether you’re agreeing or disagreeing, we need more collaboration in our industry with all the state structures and all the stakeholders, if we’re going to deal with the challenges we have in the housing area.”

The event also provided a platform for meaningful engagement between industry and policymakers, enabling open dialogue on regulatory reform, planning processes and investment priorities.

Practical insights for industry

Beyond policy discussion, the summit delivered practical insights for businesses operating in the sector. Delegates heard real-world case studies and strategies focused on:

Improving productivity and efficiency
Adapting to rising costs and market pressures
Leveraging innovation and digital construction
Building resilient, sustainable business models

Sponsors, exhibitors and speakers

A special thanks to the sponsors of Southern Construct, as well as all the exhibitors who participated on the day, and the speakers who contributed to valuable and meaningful discussions. A notable thank you to our event partners, the Business Post, who ensured a smooth running and impactful day.