Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has any plans to review the CLÁR areas in Cavan to include areas not currently included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41198/23]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next tranche of successful CLÁR funding allocations will be announced; the amount he expects to be able to allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41327/23]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I am anxious to know when the next round of successful CLÁR allocations will be announced. The CLÁR scheme has had a massive impact all over the country and the funding is very welcome for communities. If the Minister could update the House, I think everyone would be interested.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 77 together.

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported over 2,100 projects with funding of over €59 million. This funding is making a real difference in many of our smaller and more remote communities. I launched the 2023 programme in March this year. Funding of almost €8 million has been allocated for the 2023 CLÁR programme, which is an increase of €0.5 million on 2022.

Measure 1 of the programme will support the development of community facilities and amenities including sports facilities, youth clubs, playgrounds, sensory gardens and walking tracks. For the first time, the programme this year offers funding to carry out improvements to spectator stands at local GAA and other sports clubs. Measure 2 supports voluntary groups that provide free transport to people receiving cancer care and other treatment. Community first responders and search and rescue organisations were also eligible to apply. The third and final measureis designed to support offshore island communities with funding for community transport and amenity projects.

In relation to the current eligibility for CLÁR, the areas in each county that are currently eligible under CLÁR can be found on my Department's website. As Deputy Smyth will be aware, the majority of County Cavan is currently considered to be eligible for CLÁR funding. A review of CLÁR areas nationally was undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 census of population data. The review examined the most recent changes in population patterns throughout the country on the basis of this 2016 data. It also examined the approach to developing the existing CLÁR designations, which is based on 2002 data, and considered how changes in population since then impacted on designations. From the review it is clear that many areas have seen population growth in the relevant period rather than decline. Indeed, the most recent census data published by the Central Statistics Office points to population growth across all counties since 2016. This population growth suggests that there would be very few additional areas that should now be designated as CLÁR areas using the initial criteria developed for the programme. The details of the review continue to be considered by my Department in advance of any decisions being taken on changing the areas throughout Ireland which are to be designated as eligible for CLÁR.

Turning to the announcement of funding under this year's scheme, I was pleased last month to announce the approval of funding of over €2 million for 37 projects under measure 2. This included support for community groups to purchase vehicles designed to transport people who have mobility issues or people being treated for cancer. Community groups that perform roles such as transporting blood samples from hospitals were also supported under the initiative, together with vital mountain rescue teams and subaqua groups. The assessment process is well advanced in relation to measures 1 and 3 of the programme. I expect to be in a position to make a decision on the successful measure 1 and 3 projects in the coming weeks. I know that this announcement will be eagerly awaited in many communities.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. The announcement on the successful measure 1 and 3 projects is absolutely eagerly awaited. The Minister referred to the 2,100 projects that have been supported all over the country since the reintroduction of the programme back in 2016. Every single one of those projects is important in those communities. I raised the issue with the Minister during the summer. In my own locality, Keel GAA club has applied for funding to make safe the parking, drop-off and collection areas. It is one of the most dangerous GAA car parks in the country, if not the most dangerous. It is on the busy main Killarney to Dingle road. That is just one project that has applied for measure 1 funding. It would make an enormous difference to our community. It is the same for every single application. I ask the Minister to do whatever she can in terms of the maximum amount of funding that can be allocated to these projects. I can guarantee that with very few exceptions, there are not many applications that would not represent excellent value for money all over the country.

In relation to any future review of eligibility for CLÁR, we are seeing counties increase in population throughout the country, but it is the relative population increase that needs to be looked at. As we know, the east coast population is increasing at a far quicker rate than that of the west coast. We can see that in seat allocations when it comes to this House alone. I ask that that factor is considered as well, to avoid that having a disproportionate impact along the western seaboard where the population is not growing as quickly.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is dead right. The CLÁR programme does not have a huge fund, but it is a very impactful and important fund. I always make a point of trying to visit the communities that have put a lot of effort and work into fundraising themselves. I have seen the improvement in school carparks, playgrounds and indeed many other worthwhile projects, and I can say that CLÁR is small but impactful.

The maximum funding provided under measure 1 is €50,000. Measure 2 supports mobility, cancer care and community first responders. Indeed, I have been out to visit some of them and they do wonderful work, a lot of them on a voluntary basis. This helps them to provide the vehicles that they need to transport patients to and from the city, most likely, for treatment. Indeed, there a lot of the other groups, such as the subaqua groups, and the blood bikes, which is another very popular one, that get support. Measure 3 supports our islands and provides funding up to €50,000 for community amenities on our inhabited offshore islands and up to €100,000 for electric vehicles or up to €120,000 for electric vehicles or solar panels, and charging points are included. Again applications under this measure must be made directly to the Department. It is specifically targeted at the islands. All in all, as the Deputy well knows, this is a very useful fund for those areas that can apply for it. There are a lot of areas out there that would like to be able to do it, but it would be very difficult. I have gone through a lot of this and you could run into some difficulties, let us say, if you were to justify changing any of it now.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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One of the really important features of the programme is that it is relatively small money in the overall scheme of things. However, the fundraising capacity of the communities to which this funding is delivered is quite limited. For example, Camp Community Council, which is not far from where I live, was in contact with me. It built a fabulous playground many years ago. It needs an upgrade and the council applied under measure 1. For them to raise €50,000 in a small rural community would take years and a lot of hard work. They would also be competing with loads of other community groups which are doing excellent work as well. At central government level, €50,000 is not a massive amount but for the people of Camp who are looking to upgrade the playground for the children there, it is massive. That is where the impact is felt. Every cent that the Minister can get into this programme is very welcome.

If the Minister can fund as many schemes as possible, it will be very welcome and represent money well spent. I commend her on her efforts at budget time to get more funding for the scheme. It really gives a massive lift to rural communities.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for the update on CLÁR funding. There are many groups eagerly awaiting the announcement of the next round of CLÁR funding. It is great to hear it will be in the coming weeks. One of the groups eagerly awaiting an announcement is Castletownbere GAA. As Deputy Griffin will know, football is everything down on the Beara Peninsula. Castletownbere GAA basically had to come up with roadside parking over the past while. Kids getting dropped off at the GAA pitch have to be dropped off at the roadside, so the club has put in for funding for a car park. It is really essential there. The club is eagerly awaiting the announcement and results. Hopefully the outcome will be positive for it.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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All I can say is that it is a small grant that makes a big difference in communities. Deputy Griffin is right that it would take a long time to raise €50,000. In this regard, I learned a lesson many years ago when a community group got what was a very small grant in the overall scheme of things. It might have been €10,000, or not even that much. Those concerned rang me up and said to me they would be standing a long time at the traffic lights in Monaghan before they would collect €10,000 in the bucket. It goes to show how important small grants can be. We can talk about millions and billions but those grants make a real difference to people's lives.

I take on board the point on Castletownbere. I believe I was there with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan on my last trip to Cork. There was fine weather in the summertime. I have to go back.

On the issue on safety at schools, there was a relevant scheme under CLÁR. Many schools got flashing lights through the CLÁR scheme. Schools need to engage with the local authorities as it is a roads issue. However, if we can help in any way, of course we will. It is important that our children be kept safe.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We need to be careful about those flashing lights.