Written answers

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

CLÁR Programme

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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252. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeframe for approval of the remaining €731,126 of CLÁR funding under measure 3 targeted community infrastructure needs of the €1.5 million announced on 30 May 2017 and the approval of €768,874 under phase 1 of the measure 3; if further funds can be made available for 2017 under measures 1 and 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33256/17]

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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253. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the mathematical equation or calculation applied as the basis for the pro rata distribution in the decision-making process in relation to the 2017 CLÁR programme; the extent to which the proportion of the counties within the CLÁR process (details supplied) was taken into account in the overall process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33257/17]

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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254. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a scoring framework linked to the criteria applied by her Department in determination of final allocations of funding was used in relation to the 2017 CLÁR programme; the calculations that were applied; and the weighting given to the overall process (details supplied). [33258/17]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, together.

The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31stMarch last, with a closing date of 5thMay. The programme provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation.

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, with a combined value of €15 million.

While an indicative allocation was originally apportioned for each Measure, these allocations were adjusted to take account of the number and quality of applications received under each Measure. The overall amount allocated to projects was also increased from €5 million to €7 million. A total of 230 successful projects were approved for funding in recent weeks across the four Measures. Details of the approved projects are available at .

In general, my Department received a larger number of applications from counties with a high number of CLÁR District Electoral Divisions. Applications were assessed on the basis of their eligibility under the scheme criteria and on the quality of the documentation submitted to the Department in support of their proposals, as required in the scheme guidelines.

All applications which met the eligibility criteria and which were supported by adequate documentation as required were approved for funding under each Measure.

Contracts for the approved funding have now issued to all relevant Local Authorities and voluntary first-response organisations as appropriate. There is currently no further funding available for CLÁR in 2017.

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