Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to review the CLÁR areas in County Cavan to include an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11851/22]

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. I recently launched this years programme with a total budget of €7 million,  an increase of €1.5 million on the previous year.

The measures being funded under CLÁR 2022 are:

Measure 1:  Developing Community Facilities & Amenities

Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport

Measure 3: Our Islands

There  are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. The areas originally designated for CLÁR were selected in 2001 based on the level of population decline in each area between 1926 and 1996.  The Cooley Peninsula was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease at that time. The average population loss in the original CLÁR areas over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.

In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the NIRSA Institute (National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis) at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.

I understand that the area located in Co. Cavan which is the subject of the Deputy's question does not meet these criteria and is not a designated CLÁR area.

A review of CLÁR areas nationally was undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 Census of Population data. The review considered whether any other factors should be taken into account in designating areas for eligibility under CLÁR in the future, and the impact of population changes since the last review was undertaken. The details of the review will need to be considered in detail by my Department before any decisions are made on amending the areas which are designated as CLÁR.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application (details supplied); if she will ensure that this group is supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11852/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work and visit. 

In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2021 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use and enhancing town centre living. I also increased the maximum grant available under the Scheme last year to €500,000 to permit projects of additional scale to be funded. 

On Friday 25 February last, I announced almost €18.5 million in funding for 99 projects across Ireland under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal scheme. This included funding of over €1 million in funding for 6 projects in Cavan, details of which are below 

All applications were assessed as part of a competitive process. I can confirm that funding was sought in respect of the application referred to by the Deputy but it was not selected for funding on this occasion.

I will shortly be launching the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2022 should they wish to reapply.