Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the CLÁR programme will open again for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32148/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March 2017 and provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Funding 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 Measure 4 was targeted at voluntary organisations involved in emergency rescue or first-response efforts. The closing date for applications under the 2017 CLÁR programme was 5 May 2017 and over 500 applications were received across the four measures. Successful projects were announced over the last few weeks, with a total of just under €7 million allocated to approximately 230 projects across the four Measures. Details of the approved projects are available at .

There are currently no plans to open the CLÁR programme for new applications again this year. The provision of funding for the CLÁR programme for 2018 will be considered as part of the annual budgetary process later this year.