Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments. He is right that the CLÁR programme is great. I can target it and look at ways to deal with rural and urban disadvantage to see what can be done. I have initiated a review of the CLÁR programme in light of the 2016 census figures. Many areas may not need to be in CLÁR now, but there are many which should be in it. I find that myself in my area, where I see areas that have moved on. I need to look at ways to get areas in that are not in the CLÁR programme. The Deputy is quite correct that the measures we have introduced have worked well. I have seen the benefits of it from schemes that I went around the country to look at and that I have opened. The community itself contributes to it. It is a great scheme and I am delighted that I reopened it. It works well. I want the money we have allocated to be spent. The most important issue for me is to make sure that the money is spent on the projects which we have approved.

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