Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration is being given to reintroducing the group water and group sewerage top-up leverage schemes under CLÁR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53939/18]

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.

Since 2016, the CLÁR programme has provided funding to support safety measures around schools and other community facilities. It has funded play areas and multi-use games areas in communities. It has provided supports for first responders and, this year, it has enabled the purchase of vehicles to transport people to cancer care centres and respite services.

I have initiated a review of the CLÁR programme which will examine CLÁR areas by reference to the 2016 Census of Population data. This review will also help to determine the most appropriate measures to be included in CLÁR programmes in 2019 and beyond.

I am aware that, in the past, the CLÁR programme supported measures such as group water and group sewerage schemes. Decisions regarding specific measures which might be supported under the CLÁR programme in 2019 will be made early next year and will be subject to budgetary availability.