Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1124. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the CLÁR schemes for 2021 will be announced; the reason for the delay in doing so; the type of schemes it is intended to run under this programme in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9580/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Since the CLÁR programme was relaunched in 2016, it has provided funding of almost €39 million for over 1,600 projects under a range of different Measures.

Recognising the importance of the CLÁR programme to some of our most remote rural areas, I secured a 10% increase in funding for the scheme this year, bringing the allocation for 2021 to €5.5 million.

The Measures in the 2020 CLÁR programme, which was launched in May 2020, placed a focus on supporting communities to respond to the impact of COVID-19. I am currently considering the Measures for inclusion in the 2021 programme, and full details of the Measures to be supported will be announced when the programme is launched.

I anticipate that the scheme will be launched earlier this year than in 2020.