Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

29. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the 2017 CLÁR programme will open for applications; her views on the benefits this scheme can bring to rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11418/17]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 6 October 2016, The Minister of State, Deputy Ring announced the opening of the CLÁR programme. It had been closed for business since 2009. We are all aware that he also presided over the sports capital programme. He re-opened it in 2012, as that programme also then was closed for business. Rural areas have had a huge benefit from this funding and CLÁR has been especially beneficial to depopulated areas that needed small infrastructure projects such as school or road safety issues. Perhaps the Minister of State could outline the scheme for the coming year.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. I have secured an allocation of €5 million for CLÁR for 2017 and my objective is to maximise the impact of the funding that is available for the benefit of communities in CLÁR areas. I will announce details shortly of the measures to be funded under the programme this year.

In 2016, the CLÁR programme provided funding to over 650 projects for the development of local infrastructure such as safety lights at rural schools, better road markings and pedestrian crossings close to community facilities, the provision of play areas and multi-use games facilities, as well as support for access roads to public amenities. Details of the individual projects approved under each measure of the 2016 CLÁR programme are available on my Department's website.

While often modest in nature, these interventions can and do play a significant role in improving the lives of the people who live in CLÁR areas. They not only make the areas physically better places in which to live and work, they also help to facilitate better community engagement and social networking.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the additional €5 million for 2017. The critical aspect of this funding is that it makes rural Ireland an attractive place to live. It provides key infrastructure into areas where there has been a deficit. In my constituency, County Westmeath received an allocation of €214,000 last year while County Longford received €237,000 for key infrastructure projects. I must compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, on the way the funding was distributed in a fair and balanced manner. During his term of presiding over sports capital grants, there were never any issues around transparency or the way money was allocated. It is great to see small towns and villages benefitting from this funding. Under A Programme for a Partnership Government we need to emphasise the importance of rural Ireland and areas that have been neglected due to the very harsh recession. People have given up so much and sacrificed so much - as the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has said - and this programme breathes life back into those areas and ensures we are now delivering from our strong economy to improve our society and to bring compassion back into these areas. It is very important.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware that the Fianna Fáil-led Government in 2006 established criteria for this scheme and unfortunately no part of Kildare was designated under CLÁR then. If there was to be a review of the process then perhaps the Minister of State might consider that while there is a perception of affluence in County Kildare, there are pockets and areas where we struggle and have challenges. It is very important. CLÁR is the kind of scheme that could target specific cases and projects in those areas. I ask that the Department would give consideration to a review of the areas that are designated for CLÁR and that places such as Kildare that do not have a designated area could then become eligible should the right project fit and come forward.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Burke for his comments on the sports capital funding. He is quite correct that we gave a commitment to Government that we would run two programmes but we actually ran three programmes, in very difficult times. I am very proud of the fact that there was nobody giving out about distribution of funds because we did it pro rataand everybody got their fair share of the national cake. It was the first time it had ever been done and I do not believe it can, or should, be changed on this occasion. The sports capital should be distributed pro rata, as I did it, and everybody gets their fair share. There may be problems within the counties themselves, but at least every county gets its fair share of the national cake.

The Deputy is correct that the CLÁR programme was opened in 2006 by Fianna Fáil and it was closed by the same Government. I was glad to be able to open it again last year.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It was a long time to open it.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am sorry about that but it was the truth. I was glad to be able to open the programme again, like the sports capital grants.

With regard to the modest funds, I got great satisfaction from the number of schools throughout the State that actually wrote to the Department afterwards. The funding was small - €700 or €800 - for road marking, for playgrounds and simple things in and around schools for school safety. I will leave that measure in place again for this year.

I thank Deputy Heydon for his comments on Kildare. He is correct that the county is not in the CLÁR programme and I need to review that. I will ask my departmental officials about it. I do not want to find that areas might be taken out from the programme. I want to see more areas being brought in. Maybe we should change the scope of the CLÁR programme to bring in more people. I know the Acting Chair, Deputy Durkan, would not object to Kildare being brought in to the CLÁR programme.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have had a huge amount of schemes such as the sports capital programme, the town and village renewal scheme, the REDZ programme and the rural recreation scheme that have been targeted at rural Ireland. This is very welcome and we need to continue with this progress to ensure that we are delivering for these areas. It is amazing to go through small villages such as Multyfarnham, Moate, Ballinalee and Granard that have received huge funding that provides key infrastructure into these areas. It is also noteworthy that when funding is provided, communities can add funding to it from their own local authority to undertake real, large-scale projects in their areas. One can see safety measures such as pedestrian crossings outside schools and key measures that provide huge infrastructure for areas. I welcome the efforts being made by the team in the Department and I hope we can continue with this progress to ensure we have good news for rural communities.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Burke for his comments and he is quite correct and I also compliment the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. When the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, and I went into the Department this year we fought very hard to get extra funding and I must compliment the Minister. It took a number of weeks to get our funding in place but we have now opened a lot of schemes that had not been open for many years. The Deputy is right about the small investment in rural areas. People forget that for every euro we put into any community it means that somebody has a job and is employed. The funding creates employment as well as providing a modest community centre and so on. Where the funding is put in place it creates a lot of jobs, for which I am glad. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Humphreys again because we went in and we negotiated but the difference was that she brought the team with her, and the team fought with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We did not win every little battle but we got a fair bit of funding this year. On the CLÁR programme for which I have €5 million, I am hoping - and I am depending on the Minister - that I will be spending more than €5 million.