Written answers

Wednesday, 6 October 2021

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Schemes

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of playgrounds funded under the CLÁR scheme in each county both through community organisations and through schools. [48423/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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. The Measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised, if appropriate, each year.

Measure 2 of the 2021 programme provided support for Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities, including playgrounds. There were 20 playground projects approved for funding this year. These projects consist of new playgrounds/play areas and/or upgrades to playgrounds/play areas. The breakdown of these projects per county is provided in the table below.

CLÁR 2021 also approved funding for a host of other outdoor amenities such as multi-use games areas, sensory gardens and community gardens.

The full list of successful CLÁR 2021 projects and the successful projects from previous years are available on the Department's website at .

Playgrounds/Play Areas Approved for funding under CLÁR 2021

County Projects School/Community
Carlow St. Patrick's NS, Ballymurphy School
Cavan Kingscourt Community Centre Sports Club Community
Cavan Killeshandra Community Playground Community
Cavan St Felims NS, Ballinagh School
Clare Kilbaha Playground Community
Clare Fanore National School School
Donegal Fintown Railway – Cumann Traenach na Gaeltachta Láir Community
Galway Skehana Community Development Committee Community
Galway Glinsk Community Development Association Community
Kerry Comharchumann Forbartha an Leith-Triúigh Teo (Brandon Community Playground) Community
Laois Ballyfin Community Development Association Community
Leitrim Manorhamilton Public Playground Community
Longford Dromard Rural Development - Dromard Playground Community
Longford Sacred Heart Primary School, Granard School
Mayo Keel Community Playground Community
Monaghan Mullan Tidy Towns and Community Development Community
Roscommon Croghan NS School
Roscommon Camloon NS School
Sligo Dromore West Community Council CLG Community
Westmeath Kilbeggan Playground Upgrade & Extension Community

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the insurance arrangements for playgrounds that are funded under the CLÁR scheme. [48424/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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. The Measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised, if appropriate, each year.

Measure 2 of the 2021 programme provided support for Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities, including playgrounds.

Applications for funding under Measure 2 are submitted to the Department via Local Authorities. The Local Authority must ensure that funded facilities are publicly accessible with clear arrangements to insure and manage the facility.

Facilities funded under Measure 2 must be open to the public without limitations such as requiring users to be a member of a club or enrolled in a school. Furthermore, facilities on school grounds must be open to the public outside school hours.

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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180. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider extending the streetscape enhancement initiative announced on 4 August 2021 which had a deadline of 14 September 2021 with successful applicants required to apply for payments once work has been completed before 22 October 2021; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties this short timeframe has caused for persons wishing to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48713/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The €7 million Streetscape Enhancement Initiative, which is a commitment in Our Rural Future, is designed to make 124 of our rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming places for locals and visitors alike. Property owners will be part funded to improve the facades of buildings, carry out artwork and install features such as canopies and street furniture.

The initiative is being delivered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department. The maximum level of funding that can be provided to individual properties is set at a national level, with considerable discretion provided to Local Authorities to design the scheme locally to meet their individual needs.

As the funding is being made available from savings elsewhere in my Department's vote, it must be fully utilised before year end. The projects must be completed and funding drawn down from my Department by mid-November. My Department is working very closely with local authorities to ensure that as much flexibility as possible is being provided in the delivery of the scheme and to facilitate quick delivery on the ground.

Notwithstanding this, I am aware of concerns regarding the tight timeframes set to complete the works and the impact which weather conditions may have on delivery at this time of year. I have asked my officials to explore what further flexibility can be provided to address these concerns so as to ensure effective delivery of this worthwhile scheme.

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