Written Answers. - CLÁR Programme.
Brendan McGahon
Question:
113
Mr. McGahon
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
the length of time it will take to have the new CLÁR programme up and running, especially in the Cooley Peninsula, County Louth; if there will be restrictions on the way in which the projects or the funds may be used; if it will dovetail with Partnership, Interreg, Peace and Reconciliation and other organisations in the Border regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24862/01]
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
151
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
the steps he intends to take to deal with the problem of rural decline addressed in The State of the West report published by the Western Develop ment Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25105/01]
Dinny McGinley
Question:
155
Mr. McGinley
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
if new structures will be put in place to draw down funds being provided through the new CLÁR programme; if it will work in conjunction with Leader, Peace and Reconciliation, Partnership, INTERREG and other organisations; if there is a limit on when that money may be drawn down; if it will be on a first come basis regardless of regional spread; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24861/01]
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
159
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
the main features of the recently announced CLÁR programme to tackle depopulation, decline and lack of services in rural areas; the basis on which the areas were selected; the total proposed budget for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25106/01]
John V. Farrelly
Question:
230
Mr. Farrelly
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
if he will outline the details of the CLÁR programme; the areas of north County Meath which he has included; the amount of grants available; the qualifications required from applicants; when grant aid will be available; if there will be a need for matching funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25225/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
246
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
the extent to which his Department has monitored population trends in rural areas; if research is being done into comparisons between rural population levels and the levels over the past 150 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25296/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 151, 155, 159, 230 and 246 together.
In the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness the Government gave a commitment for a targeted investment programme in both urban and rural disadvantaged areas. CLÁR is the programme for revitalising rural areas.
I have selected 16 areas to participate in the programme. My primary criterion for selecting areas was the greatest percentage loss of population between 1926 and 1996. No examination was carried out on population change over the last 150 years by my Department to date. These are, in general, the areas experiencing the most rural degeneration with a constant decline in population, withdrawal of services and high dependency ratios. However, I have also included the area which had a full cull of livestock due to foot and mouth disease recently, the Cooley Peninsula. The areas selected include parts of all the counties of Connacht-Ulster, parts of five counties in Munster and parts of four counties in Leinster. The average population loss in all these areas is 50% and the total population that will benefit from the programme is 283,000.
I will convey separately to Deputy Farrelly the areas of north Meath covered by the programme.
The aim of CLÁR is to assist rural regeneration in the 16 areas. We will do this through measures to develop the physical, social and community infrastructure there. The CLÁR programme will accelerate the investments under the national development plan in order to tackle the decline in the regions identified. Consequently the primary funding will come from money already committed in the national development plan. In addition, as recently announced by the Taoiseach, I will have £20 million over the period 2002 and 2003 to underpin the success of the programme.
These three measures clearly illustrate the Government's commitment to tackling social exclusion. I intend that this programme will operate using existing structures and working closely with State agencies and complement the range of initiatives and programmes already in place.
Since this programme focuses very much on priority of investment under the national development plan, the actions identified will mirror very closely the various investment programmes in the NDP and will also have regard to existing plans for the regions. A lot of planning work has already been done by agencies such as the county development boards, the regional assemblies, the regional and local authorities, the Western Development Commission, Leader Groups and ADM partnerships.
Consequently, I do not intend to waste any more time than is absolutely necessary to get the programme up and running. Following the launch on 5 October I am now arranging over the coming weeks, to meet with local interests in all the areas selected on the identification of their needs under the programme. I will conclude my visit to each area by hosting a public meeting where the public will be briefed on what is proposed and given a chance to make their contribution.
Following these meetings I will draw up an action plan for each area which will be agreed with other relevant Departments. My aim is to complete this phase of the programme by the end of this year and that investment to these areas can begin to flow in 2002.
I believe that the priorities identified by the communities in the areas selected can be accommodated thus leading to an alleviation of population decline, disadvantage and sense of loss of community that has, for so long, been a feature of these regions.
The Western Development Commission's State of the West report is a very useful document as it outlines in detail the work that needs to be done to level the development playing pitch and to ensure that the west achieves its full potential. The report makes three key recommendations, one in relation to roads, one in relation to power and telecommunications and one in relation to an investment programme in towns.
The CLÁR initiative focuses on many of the areas and issues highlighted in the report as well as on the reprioritisation of spending under the national development plan.
I fully accept the need for a strategic response to the provision of infrastructure. As part of the CLÁR initiative and in response to the report, the interdepartmental committee on rural development has been re-established.
As regards the third recommendation on the need to invest in town infrastructure, a portion of the additional £20 million under CLÁR, along with finance from other statutory agencies, will be used to progress this objective.
