Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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102. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the areas in which he is expanding CLÁR funding in 2019, by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38626/18]

Michael 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,.

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.

Decisions regarding any categories or measures which might be supported under CLÁR in 2019 will be made early next year.