Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

CLÁR is a programme under which we have some flexibility which we use. Deputy Calleary was, however, correct in the issue he raised earlier. I do not want to start to take on matters which it is the role of other Departments to address. I had to do that in respect of the local improvement scheme when other Departments would not take on the role, with the result that no scheme was in place for many years. Deputy Smyth will know how important that scheme is to County Cavan and rural areas in general. She is correct that if there is one good scheme, it is CLÁR. While it is small money, a great job is done. I will look at the issue raised by the Deputy in that context. I am looking at new schemes to support rural communities that cannot draw down funding from other Departments which are not coming forward to support them. In particular, I have no difficulty in supporting the provision of child safety measures at schools. To be fair to the Deputy, she has acknowledged that the CLÁR programme has worked well. We have done a great deal of very good work on school safety, including providing warning signs that there is a school ahead. I am sure we have saved many lives nationally as a result. I will be opening the scheme again shortly and considering ways to improve CLÁR. However, I do not want to find myself taking on the work of other Departments as the minute one starts to do so, the funding will be drawn away. I need to sit down and work with other Departments also.

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