Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will continue with the CLÁR programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7986/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, with the reduced funding made available to my Department, the CLÁR programme, which was targeted at tackling infrastructure and services deficits in depopulated rural areas, has been wound down. From an out-turn of the order of €24m in 2008, the allocation for the programme for 2011 was reduced in last December's Budget to €0.5m. This will be used to meet existing commitments arising during this year.

I am advised that no funding applications have been accepted since August 2008 under the main CLÁR programme measures. In view of the difficulties with the public finances, it is not currently proposed to open the programme to new applications. The Deputy will also be aware that the Capital Expenditure Review, prepared by the Department of Finance in July 2010, stated that such investment needs should be funded in the future by the Government Departments with primary sectoral responsibility in the areas concerned.