Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1280. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will set out plans to rebalance CLÁR programme allocations in favour of the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas. [23395/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas which were selected based on an analysis of population decline.

The Programme for Government makes a commitment to carry out a comprehensive review of the eligibility criteria of CLÁR within 6 months with a view to expanding the programme to rural areas which are currently ineligible. It also indicates that the review should examine the merits of utilising Pobal’s Rural Deprivation Index or other measures deemed appropriate for determining CLÁR status

My officials have commenced the process of completing this review which will inform my decision regarding the areas that will be eligible for CLÁR in the future.