Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the 2017 CLÁR programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20387/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle has nominated Deputy Joe Carey in the place of Deputy Tony McLoughlin for Question No. 45.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I wish to ask Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the 2017 CLÁR programme and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas providing funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that have experienced significant depopulation. While often modest in nature, these interventions play a very significant role in improving the lives of the people who live in CLÁR areas. I re-opened the CLÁR programme in 2016, following its closure for new applications in 2010, and provided funding for over 650 projects in areas such as safety measures at rural schools and community facilities, the provision of school and community play areas and support for access roads to public amenities.

Building on the success of 2016, I launched the 2017 CLÁR programme on 31 March last, with an allocation of €5 million. Funding is available under four different Measures. Measure 1 will provide support for safety initiatives such as warning signs, road markings and footpaths in the environs of schools and community facilities. Measure 2 will support the enhancement and development of play areas in schools and communities. Measure 3 will support innovative community-based projects that do not qualify for assistance under other public schemes. Measure 4 will provide support to voluntary organisations that provide first response services in rural areas for the replacement or upgrading of equipment or vehicles used for emergency response.

Full details of the 2017 CLÁR scheme are available on the rural development pages of my Department’s website. The closing date for applications under the 2017 CLÁR programme is 5 May 2017. All applications received by the closing date will be assessed by my Department and I expect to be in a position to announce the successful applicants by the end of May.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme is the most important scheme for rural Ireland. I welcome that the Minister of State re-opened the scheme last year. It was the first time since 2009 that the scheme was available. Last year County Clare received €284,000 for 27 projects for rural areas that have suffered from significant depopulation. The scheme provides community groups and schools with an opportunity to apply for funding under different headings.

I welcome that the Minister of State has broadened the scheme to include applications from voluntary first responder organisations throughout the country and community-based projects that do not qualify for other streams of funding, and is demonstrating an element of flexibility in the scheme. I encourage all community groups and schools in CLÁR areas to apply for the scheme. I ask the Minister of State to clarify the applications process. When will he be in a position to make an announcement as regards successful applicants?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is quite correct. The scheme is very successful. I will return to Government, and I know the Deputy and all of my colleagues will support me, seeking further funding for the CLÁR programme.

The measure pertaining to schools has proven to be very successful. There were three rounds of funding under the sports capital programme. The scheme has worked very well in terms of safety measures for children outside schools. It has also worked well with the local authorities and has been one of our successes.

The Deputy is quite correct in that this round of applications includes a new initiative in order to include organisations or groups which had not received funding under any other State scheme. If five, six, seven, eight, ten or 15 applications are submitted for the same type of project, that is something we can consider for the next round of the CLÁR programme.

Despite a small amount of money being involved, areas that are in need of support and help can be targeted. The funding this year totals €5 million and the applications process will close on Friday. I hope to be able to announce the successful applicants at the end of the month. I hope if further funding is provided at the end of the year there could perhaps be a second round to address other applications.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the CLÁR programme and it is an opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to rural Ireland. Through the programme projects that might not ordinarily get funding have received it. Schools are very tight for funding and a lot of good work has been done in terms of safety and traffic calming measures, playgrounds and other things that are the hub of community living in rural Ireland.

The announcement of CLÁR funding always involves tight deadlines and I understand the lead-in time is fairly short with the closing date for applications being 5 May. Funding is dependent on Government finances and so on, but I ask for a longer lead-in time in order to give local authorities and community groups, in particular, an opportunity to carry out good preparatory work. I ask the Minister of State to continue his commitment to CLÁR funding and investment in such schemes.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What happened with the CLÁR programme also happened with the dispersed capital programme. No matter how long organisations are given to apply for a scheme, applications are submitted at the last minute. In the case of the sports capital programme, at 4.55 p.m. on the very last day of applications for the programme the system broke down because everyone left it until the last minute even though there had not been a scheme for many years.

Due to Easter and other issues, we extended the application deadline for another week in order to give local authorities until the end of the week to apply. I do not want to consider applications for too long. I want funding to be allocated and targeted at groups which need it. Local authorities have complained that the allocation of the money comes too late. That is why applications will close on Friday. At the end of this month I intend to allocate the money so that local authorities and other groups have plenty of time to spend the money before the end of the year.