John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans in place to give CLÁR status to Ballisodare east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14344/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The CLÁR Programme is a targeted investment programme in rural areas. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme were those that suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996, with the exception of the Cooley Peninsula (which was included based on the serious difficulties caused there by Food and Mouth disease). The areas covered by CLÁR were reviewed in 2003 and, again, in 2006. The total number of counties now covered is 23 with a population of nearly 727,000.

At the time of the CLÁR extensions, Ballisodare East was not selected for inclusion in the Programme as it had a population increase of approx. 80% between 1926 and 2002 and, therefore, did not fit the criteria. I have no plans at present for any further expansion of the areas covered by CLÁR.