Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

CLÁR is an important part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and focuses on areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. It is a programme that provides modest amounts of money for small scale initiatives in rural areas, but the impact of the funding for these areas is huge. CLÁR was effectively closed for new applications in 2010. However, since I relaunched CLÁR in 2016, more than 1,200 projects have benefitted from funding of €25 million under the programme. The type of projects which have been funded, include safety measures around schools and other community facilities, multi-use play areas, supports for voluntary first-responder emergency organisations and funding for vehicles to transport people to cancer care centres and other respite services.

I have visited many of the projects which have received funding under CLÁR and I can see the difference the support from the programme makes in improving the lives of people in CLÁR communities. As I have outlined, CLÁR focuses on areas which have suffered significant population decline. However, the underlying data need to be reviewed to take account of the 2016 census of population. In this context, I have commenced a review of the programme which will examine CLÁR areas in light of the 2016 census data. The review process began last month with a targeted consultation meeting with a number of experts who are recognised for their background in rural development issues. The review will also involve more detailed stakeholder consultation and I anticipate that it will be completed in the first half of 2019.

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