Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1039. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason County Kildare is not named as one of the counties in the target group as mentioned in the CLÁR funding round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9040/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructure projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. 

Details of the designated CLÁR areas can be found on my Department's pages on the gov.ie website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/ab7580-clar-funding-area-maps/.  There are no designated CLÁR areas in County Kildare.

The areas originally designated for CLÁR were selected in 2001 based on the level of population decline in each area between 1926 and 1996.  The Cooley Peninsula was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease at that time. The average population loss in the original CLÁR areas over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.

In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the NIRSA Institute (National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis) at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.

A full review of the CLÁR programme has been initiated by my Department which will examine the most recent changes in population patterns throughout the country on the basis of 2016 Census data.  The review will also consider whether any factors other than depopulation should be taken into account in determining CLÁR areas in the future.  I expect that review to be completed in the coming months.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1040. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a school (details supplied) is eligible to apply for funding under the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9189/20]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1048. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a school (details supplied) is eligible to apply for funding under the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9207/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1040 and 1048 together.

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructure projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. This year, the supports provided through CLÁR have been tailored to help rural communities respond to the new COVID-19 environment, including through the addition of new funding measures.

I launched the 2020 CLÁR programme on 25th May, and the closing date for receipt of applications is 28 August 2020. The measures being funded under the programme this year are:

Measure 1: Schools/Community Safety Measures; Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new in 2020); Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising:

(a) Meals on Wheels and Linked Services (new in 2020)

(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport.

Only projects which are located or provide services in a designated CLÁR area are eligible for funding under the programme. The school referred to by the Deputy does not appear to be in a CLÁR area.

The map of CLÁR areas in Co. Meath is available at: .

The breakdown of CLÁR areas by District Electoral Division is also available at: .