Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of a CLÁR application by a person (details supplied); if she will ensure that the service level agreements are considered in full as part of this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24984/22]

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 that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period.

The 2022 programme was launched in February last 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

Measure 1 closed on 6th May and is administered directly by the local authorities. It supports a variety of capital interventions that contribute to the enhancement of existing and/or the development of new accessible community recreation facilities.

Measure 2 closed on 8th April and Measure 3 closed on 6th May. All applications are now being assessed and successful applicants will be announced later in the year.

I can confirm that no application has been received from the group referred to by the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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313. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the areas in which funding that was allocated to a scheme (details supplied) was spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25102/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities and represent a vital piece of infrastructure for rural communities. As part of 'Our Rural Future',the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme is funded into the future.

The determination of eligibility and subsequent prioritisation and selection of LIS roads is a matter for the relevant local authority. Selected roads are included in a priority list of roads provided to my Department. In some instances, a road included on a priority list may not be delivered and may be substituted by one or more roads on a “secondary list” provided by the Local Authority.

In 2018, 144 LIS roads were completed in Mayo. I understand that the road referred to by the Deputy was one of a total of 11 approved roads on the priority list in County Mayo which did not proceed. The funding available for these roads was reallocated to 13 roads on the secondary list provided by Mayo County Council. The road referred to by the Deputy was originally selected for works totaling €34,890.

A short section of this road referred to by the Deputy was again included on the priority list from Mayo County Council in 2020. The Local Authority has indicated that the works on this shorter section of the road involved a higher standard of finish than was envisaged in 2018 and was funded in the amount of €29,602.

My officials requested a written report from the relevant local authority in respect of the road in question. The material received referenced a number of engineering constraints linked to the proposed works. Following the commitment I gave to have this matter reviewed, my Department identified that the local contributors requested to raise the road level to protect against tidal flooding.

As the road was located in a Special Protection Area (SPA), works would require an environmental screening assessment. An ecologist report would be required in advance of works and a foreshore licence would also be required. The proposed works would necessitate the construction of a safety barrier. The local authority has confirmed that the considerable additional resources required could not be met from within the Local Improvement Scheme. It was, however, agreed with the applicants that a regular overlay would be applied to the road as these works would not required screening.