Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for CLÁR funding for group water and sewage schemes in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34081/20]

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:

- Safety Works around Schools and Community Facilities

- Outdoor Play Facilities

- Local Access Roads

- First Responders Support

- Support for Mobility and Cancer Care Transport

- Community Recreation Areas

- Meals on Wheels and Linked Services.

In 2020, the programme placed a particular focus on supporting CLÁR communities to deal with the impact of COVID-19 in their areas.

At present, I have no plans to include group water or group sewage schemes in the programme.

A review of the CLÁR programme is currently underway and this review will examine a number of issues which will inform the future direction of the programme. This review will also help to determine the most appropriate measures to be included in CLÁR programmes in the future.