Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money spent on CLÁR and town and village renewal projects to date in 2016; if, in each case, the funding will be paid after completion of work by the local authorities; the number of projects approved to date under the CLÁR programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37355/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The reopening of CLÁR a nd the launch of the Town and Village renewal scheme this year form part of the Government’s programme to support rural development. In the case of both initiatives, Local Authorities were invited to submit proposals in line with the terms of the relevant scheme. I recently announced the approval of just over €9.8 million to 172 towns and villages across the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

In relation to CLÁR, Minister of State Michael Ring will be shortly be announcing the allocations in respect of the successful projects under the new scheme. Expenditure of €54,597 has issued to date in 2016 to fulfil continuing commitments from the previous CLÁR programme.

The funding under both of these schemes is being paid to the Local Authorities in 2016 by my Department in line with approved sanction, and on the basis of their project proposals and funding agreements with the Department. My Department will be closely monitoring expenditure on both schemes to ensure that expenditure is in line with the Public Spending Code and that the funding is spent promptly and in accordance with the project proposals.