Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a separate scheme for the big towns worth €2 billion. I will set out the priorities of my Department in the coming weeks. I will announce schemes and I will look at new schemes as part of the CLÁR programme. Deputy Ó Cuív asked a question about the CLÁR programme. The programme has worked very well. In my county a number of rural areas are delighted with the playgrounds and other facilities. We have put safety warning signs outside schools in every corner of the country, which have saved the lives of many children. We have provided grant funding for first responder groups. We have also provided grant funding for ambulances and other such facilities. The CLÁR programme is a great one. I will seek further funding to put into it. I like the programme and I will reinvent it. I opened the programme and now that I know we have funding for the future I can start planning to bring in other schemes into the CLÁR programme.

I will give a simple example to Deputy Ó Cuív. I was in Knockananna in rural west Wicklow last week. I funded a small playground there and in a number of other areas. The communities were delighted that they had such facilities and did not need to go to the big towns and cities for them. I am delighted the scheme is working. I am very proud of it and I want to continue to build on it and to try to get further funding for it.

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