Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money allocated to the CLÁR scheme for 2016 and 2017; the measures it is proposed to roll out in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31100/16]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures it is intended to introduce under the CLÁR scheme in 2016 and 2017 respectively; the amount of money it is intended to expend by the end of 2016 under the scheme; if in 2016 or 2017 there will be a measure co-funded by the Department of Education and Skills or solely funded by her Department for the development of outdoor play facilities at primary schools in the CLÁR area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31441/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 211 together.

I announced the reopening of the CLÁR Programme on the 6 th October 2016, with funding of €3 million available for this year. The programme will provide funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

The reopening of CLÁR is part of the Government’s programme to support rural development, which has also recently seen the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a new phase of the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) initiative, and funding for rural recreation infrastructure under the Rural Recreation Scheme.

CLÁR 2016 will see funding provided for three measures: Safety Measures for Schools and Community/ Sports Facilities, Playgrounds (including in primary schools) and Multi-Use Games Areas, and Local Access Roads. All funding will be dependent on Local Authorities having the capacity to implement the proposed projects immediately. CLÁR funding can provide up to 80% of the funding for eligible activities, with the remainder provided by the Local Authority or through other local contributions.

I have secured an allocation of €5 million for CLÁR for 2017 as part of Budget 2017. This funding will build on the 2016 scheme and further support the development of areas of particular disadvantage in rural Ireland.