Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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607. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be opportunities for rural community groups to access CLÁR funding to purchase vehicles as part of their operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45918/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures.

This year's programme was launched in February with a total budget of €7 million.  This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme.

The measures funded under CLÁR 2022 were:

Measure 1:  Developing Community Facilities and Amenities

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

Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’

While the 2022 programme is now closed for applications, funding was secured this year by community groups providing island community transport under Measure 3 and for mobility, cancer care and community first responder groups under Measure 2. Information on the successful projects can be found on my Department's website. 

The measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed each year, and will be reviewed again in advance of the next launch of the programme.