John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the end of year expenditure on the CLÁR programme for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42917/06]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way a reduction in 2007 in funding under the CLÁR programme can be justified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42871/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if it is intended to enhance spending or increase scope and scale of activities or works under the CLÁR programme; the way this is expected to manifest itself in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43211/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 91 and 264 together.

A budget of €22.95m was provided for the CLÁR Programme in 2006 based on the projected level of expenditure and the expansion of the areas covered by the Programme where was announced in April 2006.

Expenditure under the Programme this year is expected to reach approx. €20.5m. The under-spend is mainly due to some of the new areas not progressing with projects as quickly as anticipated earlier in the year.

My Department's Estimates for 2007 provide for a budget of €20.183m for the Programme next year. This is in keeping with the outturn for this year and will, I believe, be sufficient to meet the demands under the Programme in 2007.

I have no plans at present for a further review of the Programme in terms of expanding the areas covered. However, the measures being operated under the Programme are kept under on-going review by my Department who are in regular contact with other Government Departments/Agencies in relation to the possible introduction of new measures relevant to the remit of the Programme.