Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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611. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on increasing the annual funding for the CLÁR programme; if there are any further allocations to be made in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47024/22]

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.

The programme was re-launched in 2016 following a number of years when the scheme was closed to new applications. Measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised each year, as appropriate. CLÁR has made significant investments at community level the length and breadth of the country. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects since its re-launch.

I allocated €7 million to this year's programme, which I launched in February. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on last year’s budget.

The measures being funded under this year are:

- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities

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

- Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’

The 2022 programme is now closed and details of the successful applications are published on my Department’s website.

Any decision in relation to future funding levels to support the programme is subject to the capital funding allocations as set out the National Development Plan, as well as the annual budgetary process.