Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered from significant population decline, based on CSO data. The programme was closed for new applications in 2010. However, the Minister, Deputy Ring, relaunched CLÁR in the second half of 2016 because he recognised the programme can make a great difference to people living in the relevant areas.

Since CLÁR was relaunched in 2016, almost €33 million has been allocated to over 1,400 projects under different CLÁR measures. The 2019 CLÁR programme invited applications under three separate measures: support for schools and community safety; play areas; and community well-being support.

There was great interest in the CLÁR programme this year, with almost 500 applications received. The funding sought in those applications far exceeded the available budget. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fund all the projects for which applications were submitted. Nonetheless, €6 million has been allocated for 179 projects under the 2019 CLÁR programme. This includes funding for eight projects in County Cork, to the value of almost €300,000.

A total of €1.89 million has been allocated to 74 projects in Cork since 2016 under CLÁR. The funding approved for any particular local authority under measures 1 and 2 of the 2019 programme, which are for schools and play areas, reflected the extent of the designated CLÁR areas in each county. It is not based on the overall geographical footprint or the population of the county. From a Galway perspective, I can understand some of the Deputy's frustration. In other words, counties that have a larger percentage of their geographic area in CLÁR received more funding than counties that had a small percentage in CLÁR. For example, Leitrim is a relatively small county but all of it is designated as a CLÁR area. The approach taken is only fair, given the specific targeted nature of the programme. Other counties perform well in regard to other programmes delivered by the Department.

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