Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if CLÁR funding is to be made available for tertiary roads; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34082/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. No funding was available for new applications under the programme between 2010 and 2016 due to constraints on the public finances.

Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a range of different measures including outdoor play facilities and support for mobility and cancer care transport. While a small amount of funding under the scheme was used for local access roads in 2016, my Department has since relaunched the Local Improvement Scheme which is providing funding of €10 million in 2020 for non-public roads.

I therefore have no plans to use CLÁR funding for road works. Public tertiary roads come under the remit of the Local Authorities.

This year, the CLÁR programme has placed a particular focus on supporting CLÁR communities to deal with the impact of COVID-19 in their areas.

On 2nd November, I announced that €4.1 million had been allocated to support 115 projects involving the provision of safety measures around schools and community facilities, as well as the development of community recreation areas. Further announcements will be made shortly in relation to community wellbeing supports under CLÁR, including for Meals on Wheels and linked services, and Mobility and Cancer Care Transport.