Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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330. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to review the areas included under the CLÁR programme to include County Kildare which is one of just three counties not designated for CLÁR funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30118/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) was originally launched in October 2001 to provide for targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas.

The areas originally selected for inclusion in the CLÁR programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996, with the exception of the Cooley Peninsula which was included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease. The average population loss in the original CLÁR regions over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.

In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) at NUI Maynooth and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% per county between 1926 and 2002. Parts of five counties were added (Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow), increasing the total number of counties covered by the programme at that stage from 18 to 23.

It is my intention to review the CLÁR areas later this year, based on detailed 2016 Census small area data which is expected to be available shortly. However, the criterion of significant rural de-population will continue to be a key factor in determining eligible CLÁR areas.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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331. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons an application for the CLÁR programme 2017 submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal was not successful; if she will provide information regarding the score awarded to the aforementioned application as per the formal assessment and evaluation of applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30138/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March last, with a closing date of 5 May. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

Funding for the 2017 CLÁR programme was available this year under four separate Measures:

Measure 1: Support for School and Community Safety Measures

Measure 2: Play Areas

Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure

Measure 4: First Responder Supports

In total, more than 500 applications were received across the four Measures to the value of €15 million.

Funding to support projects under CLÁR this year was limited and it was not possible to fund all applications. In recent weeks, 230 successful projects were approved for funding, with a total of just under €7 million allocated across the four Measures.

In general, applications were assessed on the basis of their eligibility under the scheme criteria and on the quality of the documentation supporting their proposals, as required in the scheme guidelines. I can confirm that the application in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy was unsuccessful as adequate supporting documentation was not provided.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason an application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied) was unsuccessful under measure one, support for school and community safety measures; if her attention has been drawn to the safety concerns parents and teachers have regarding daily traffic volumes at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30180/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March last, with a closing date of 5 May. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

Funding for the 2017 CLÁR programme was available this year under four separate Measures:

Measure 1: Support for School and Community Safety Measures

Measure 2: Play Areas

Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure

Measure 4: First Responder Supports.

In total, more than 500 applications were received across the four Measures to the value of €15 million.

Funding to support projects under CLÁR this year was limited and it was not possible to fund all applications. In recent weeks, 230 successful projects were approved for funding, with a total of just under €7 million allocated across the four Measures.

In general, applications were assessed on the basis of their eligibility under the scheme criteria and on the quality of the documentation supporting their proposals, as required in the scheme guidelines. I can confirm that the application in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy was unsuccessful as adequate supporting documentation was not provided.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason an application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied) was unsuccessful under measure one, support for school and community safety measures; if her attention has been drawn to the safety concerns parents and teachers have regarding the school and daily traffic volumes due to the restrictive nature of approach roads to and from the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30181/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The 2017 programme was launched on 31 March last, with a closing date of 5 May.

Funding for the 2017 CLÁR programme was available this year under four separate Measures:

Measure 1: Support for School and Community Safety Measures

Measure 2: Play Areas

Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure

Measure 4: First Responder Supports

Applications under Measures 1, 2 and 3 were submitted through the Local Authorities, while applications under Measure 4 were submitted from voluntary organisations involved in community-based response to emergency situations.

In total, more than 500 applications were received across the four Measures to the value of €15 million. I can confirm, however, that an application in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy was not received from the Local Authority by my Department under Measure 1.

In recent weeks, 230 successful projects were approved for funding, with a total of just under €7 million allocated across the four Measures. Over 800 projects have now been approved for funding since the CLÁR programme was re-launched in 2016.