Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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395. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department under the CLÁR scheme or another scheme supports the provision of infrastructure and footpaths in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27143/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different Measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Measure 1 of the Programme provides supports to make access to school or community facilities safer for children and adults. However, it does not typically provide funding for infrastructure in the type of location referred to by the Deputy.

Nonetheless, under my Department’s Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), Local Authorities can allocate up to 25% of their annual allocation of funding to improve "Amenity Roads" such as those serving the type of location referred to by the Deputy. On the 14^thMay last, I announced an allocation of €10.5 million for the Scheme for 2021.

Finally, the Department of Transport may be in a position to assist as part of the funding it provides for walking and cycling facilities through its Rural Active Travel Investment Programme.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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396. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is her plan to increase the proposed funding of LIS roads and CLÁR projects in cases in which there are suitable projects on hand in local authorities at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27264/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population in the past. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has provided funding of almost €39 million for over 1,600 projects.

I launched the 2021 programme on 15^thMarch and I was pleased to secure a 10% increase in funding bringing the allocation for 2021 to €5.5 million.

The Local Improvement Scheme or LIS is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas, which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. There was no dedicated funding stream for a number of years until the scheme was re-launched in 2017. Since then, over €58 million has been allocated to deliver the scheme on over 2,300 roads, which have benefited over 10,000 residents and landowners.

I launched the 2021 LIS on Friday 14th May last and I was also pleased to secure a 5% increase in funding for that Scheme, bringing the funding available for this year to €10.5 million. I also indicated at the launch of the Scheme that, subject to budget availability, I am exploring the potential to allocate further funding for the Local Improvement Scheme later this year.