Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He has raised it before. My first priority was to get the programme opened again, which I did. To be fair, using the census figures we are using does not really make sense. I now need to do the review. I want it done quickly. I need to look at ways and means. There might be other issues, such as the one the Deputy has just raised, we need to consider in including areas in the CLÁR programme. Things have changed in certain areas. One would have to question whether some parts of my own constituency which were in the original CLÁR programme should be in it now. There are other areas which should be in the programme which are not. I need to start looking at it. I need to start looking at ways and means to include areas where there is disadvantage and where there are issues which need to be dealt with. One good thing about the CLÁR programme is that it can actually be targeted at schemes. One can look at ways and means to target schemes. I like the scheme and I want it to continue but the census figures I am using now are out of date. I need to get new figures and I have done so. We have started consultation. I also want to get down to those at grassroots level, rather than just the professionals, to see what they have to say and to see if they come back with any ways and means to improve the CLÁR programme.

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