Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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727. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when funding from the CLÁR programme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29143/19]

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 over €25 million.

I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on 28 February last. Applications were invited under three separate measures:

Measure 1: Support for "School and Community Safety Measures",

Measure 2: Support for "Play Areas and Multi-Use Games Areas", and

Measure 3: 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 the 30th April, and almost 500 applications were received by my Department.

My officials are currently finalising the assessment of the applications received and decisions on the successful projects will be made shortly.