Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Programme.

Enda Kenny

Question:

138 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the resources available to the CLÁR programme initiated arising from the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; the areas to be chosen for action under the programme; the criteria which will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18848/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 194 together.

An announcement of the rural areas selected for the CLÁR programme will be made in the coming weeks. The areas to be selected will be chosen on the principle of population decline, where such decline has been the most critical over the 1926 to 1996 period, based on census of population data over this interval. In line with the Government commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to target investment to the most disadvantaged areas, the intention of the CLÁR programme is to prioritise and accelerate National Development Plan 2000-2006 expendi ture for State services and facilities to those rural areas.