Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful applications under 2019 CLÁR funding will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22754/19]

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 de-population. Since I relaunched the programme in 2016, more than 1,200 projects have been approved funding of almost €27 million.

I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on the 28^thof February last, and invited applications under three separate measures.

Measure 1 provides support for "School and Community Safety Measures",

Measure 2 provides support for "Play Areas and Multi-Use Games Areas", and 

Measure 3 provides funding for "Community Wellbeing Support" . 

Community Wellbeing Support covers the provision of equipment and vehicles for voluntary first-response organisations, as well as the provision of specialist vehicles to bring people to cancer-care centres and other community-care services.  The measure will also provide funding for sensory gardens. 

The closing date for the 2019 CLÁR programme was 30th April, and almost 500 applications were received by my Department. 

My officials are currently assessing all of the applications received and I hope to be in a position to announce the successful projects shortly.