Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. I have secured an allocation of €5 million for CLÁR for 2017 and my objective is to maximise the impact of the funding that is available for the benefit of communities in CLÁR areas. I will announce details shortly of the measures to be funded under the programme this year.

In 2016, the CLÁR programme provided funding to over 650 projects for the development of local infrastructure such as safety lights at rural schools, better road markings and pedestrian crossings close to community facilities, the provision of play areas and multi-use games facilities, as well as support for access roads to public amenities. Details of the individual projects approved under each measure of the 2016 CLÁR programme are available on my Department's website.

While often modest in nature, these interventions can and do play a significant role in improving the lives of the people who live in CLÁR areas. They not only make the areas physically better places in which to live and work, they also help to facilitate better community engagement and social networking.

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