Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the 2017 CLÁR programme will open for applications; the types of projects that will be supported under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11363/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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CLÁR is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.

I have secured an allocation of €5 million for CLÁR for 2017 and my objective is to maximise the impact of the funding which is available, for the benefit of communities in CLÁR areas. I will shortly be announcing details of the measures to be funded under the programme this year.

In 2016, the CLÁR programme provided funding to over 650 projects for the development of local infrastructure such as safety lights at rural schools, better road markings and pedestrian crossings close to community facilities, the provision of play areas and multi-use games facilities, and support for access roads to public amenities.

While often modest in nature, these interventions play a very significant role in improving the lives of the people who live in CLÁR areas.