Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale infrastructure projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. As the Deputy is aware, the programme was effectively closed for new applications in 2010 but I relaunched it in 2016 and since then more than 1,200 projects have been approved for funding of more than €25 million.

Since 2016, the CLÁR programme has provided funding to support safety measures for schools and other community facilities. It has funded play areas and multi-use games areas in communities and also provided supports for first responders. This year, for the first time, it has enabled the purchase of vehicles to transport people to cancer care centres and respite services.

My objective is to ensure that the funding available under the CLÁR programme is used to benefit communities in remote rural areas to the best extent possible. I have been able to visit some of the projects which have been funded through the scheme and have seen at first hand the positive impact which even a small amount of support can have on these communities.

I am open to considering expanding the scope of the CLÁR programme to include other measures, subject to budgetary availability. I am aware that in the past the CLÁR programme supported measures such as group water and group sewerage schemes.

I have initiated a review of the CLÁR programme which will examine CLÁR areas by reference to the 2016 census of population data. This review will also help to inform future CLÁR programmes in 2019 and beyond. Decisions regarding specific measures which might be supported under the CLÁR programme in 2019 will be made early next year.

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