Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an overview of how the CLÁR scheme has benefitted County Clare in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22542/26]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.

Last year I approved over €14 million for 238 projects under the programme, with funding being provided for community facilities and amenities, community vehicles and specific support for our island communities. This included nine projects in Clare that collectively received almost €600,000 in funding.

Since 2020, 73 projects in County Clare have been approved funding of almost €3.5 million. The full list of projects approved each year in County Clare is available on my department’s website. It includes a range of community infrastructure projects such as playgrounds and sensory spaces, sport facility enhancements, multi-use games areas and walking trails. Funding has also been provided for community vehicles.

These projects are no doubt enhancing the lives of people in rural Clare by assisting in improving wellbeing, facilitating social interaction and enhancing recreational opportunities.

The Deputy may also be aware that I have completed a review of the eligible CLÁR areas and that an additional 110 electoral divisions have now been designated as CLÁR areas. This includes the electoral divisions of Corofin, Kilkishen and Sixmilebridge in Clare which will, for the first time, be eligible to apply for CLÁR funding. CLÁR now covers 85% of the area of County Clare and almost 48% of the population located there.

The 2026 CLÁR programme with a record budget of €12 million is now open for applications. I look forward to approving the successful applications by year end which will no doubt include many more projects for County Clare.