Written answers

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

Department of Rural and Community Development

CLÁR Programme

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding CLÁR funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38625/18]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, 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 depopulation.More than 1,200 projects have been approved for total funding of €25 million since I relaunched the programme in 2016.

The 2018 CLÁR programme provided funding 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 

In recent weeks, I approved 362 successful projects for funding under these measures, with a total allocation of €10.4 million across the three measures. The successful projects are listed on the CLÁR pages of my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. 

I also announced a further measure to support mobility and cancer care transport in CLÁR areas which closed for applications at the end of August. I expect to make an announcement regarding the successful applicants under this measure shortly.

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to review the CLÁR areas based on the 2016 census returns; the timeline for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38622/18]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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CLÁR was originally launched in October 2001 to provide for 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 regions 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 CLÁR programme was closed for new applications in 2010.  However, I re-launched the programme in the second half of 2016, using as a base-line the areas identified in the work carried out by NIRSA.  Over 1,200 projects have been approved for funding of €25 million under CLÁR since I re-launched the programme in 2016. 

I intend carrying out a full review of qualifying CLÁR areas later this year on the basis of the 2016 Census data. The level of depopulation will continue to be a primary factor in the designation of any area as a CLÁR area.  The review will involve a detailed examination of all areas of the country, as well as stakeholder consultation.

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

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