Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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690. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if CLÁR funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) which is in urgent need of alternative parking arrangements. [32305/18]

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. Applications under Measure 1 were submitted by Local Authorities following consultation with communities in their CLÁR areas.

On the 29th June, I announced funding of €4.8 million for 170 projects under Measure 1 of the 2018 CLÁR programme.

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 two applications in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy were received from the relevant Local Authority. Both were submitted under Measure 1, and one of these was successful.

The second application was not successful as it did not comply with the eligibility criteria indicated in the scheme guidelines. In particular, evidence of planning approval had not been obtained for the proposed project.