Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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487. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28661/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.

I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on the 15th March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures:

Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures

Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas

Measure 3: First Response Support Measure

The closing date for CLÁR 2018 was 30th April and more than 400 applications were received. I understand that an application in respect to the school referred to by the Deputy was not received. However, if the Deputy wishes to provide me with further information, I will look further into the matter.

On the 29th June, I announced funding of €4.8 million for 170 projects under Measure 1 of the 2018 CLÁR programme. Details of the successful projects under this Measure are available on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. I hope to announce the successful projects under Measures 2 and 3 very soon.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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488. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to review the areas which are designated CLÁR; if there is an appeals mechanism if persons are just outside a CLÁR area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28690/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme is an important part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and makes a huge contribution to supporting the most depopulated areas in rural Ireland. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

CLÁR was originally launched in October 2001 to provide targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996. The Cooley Peninsula was also 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 areas over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.

In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the NIRSA Institute at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002. The analysis of the Census data was carried out at a district electoral division (DED) level and all areas designated as being 'CLÁR' areas are designated on a DED basis. In order for an area to be eligible to receive funding under the CLÁR programme it must be in one of the designated CLÁR DEDs which meets the population loss criteria. There is no appeals mechanism.

It is my intention to carry out a full review of qualifying CLÁR areas later this year on the basis of the 2016 Census data. This review will involve a detailed examination of all areas of the country, as well as stakeholder consultation. However, the level of depopulation will continue to be a primary factor in the designation of CLÁR areas.

The findings of the review will inform the CLÁR programme into 2019 and beyond.