Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The CLÁR programme was established in 2001 and at that time, the areas were identified on the basis of areas that had suffered due to population decline. To my knowledge, there was only one extension to the original CLÁR programme, which occurred in 2006 and was based on the 2002 census. The Minister will be aware from my correspondence with the Department and parliamentary questions I have tabled that I have been calling for an extension to the programme. At what stage is the consultation process at in relation to a possible extension to this very important programme, particularly for small rural communities?

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