Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 5

Written Answers. - Rural Disadvantage.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

147 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the role he envisages for the CLÁR projects; if, in particular, he will ensure that this is a genuine attempt to address the needs of disadvantaged rural areas as was anticipated when it was agreed in the PPF negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5664/02]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

148 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, in regard to the CLÁR initiative, it is envisaged that a person will be named in each Department to respond to actions identified in the areas to be served; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5665/02]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

149 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the way in which it is proposed to allocate the ?25,394,762; the priorities for CLÁR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5666/02]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

150 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the proposals there are for the involvement of local communities in the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5667/02]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

151 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the way in which it is intended to involve the area-based partnerships in the CLÁR initiative which were set up to address development needs and social exclusion in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5668/02]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

152 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if it is intended that the CLÁR initiative will address issues other than infrastructure; if, in particular, he envisages a role for CLÁR regarding areas such as education, health and child care and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5669/02]

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

164 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the criteria needed to have a successful application to the CLÁR programme; the number of applications received; the financial contributions sought from each of the qualifying areas; and the amount of financial support that will be allocated by June 2002. [5799/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 152, inclusive, and No. 164 together.

The CLÁR initiative, launched last October by Minister of State, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, will focus on disadvantage in selected rural areas. Rural disadvantage is manifested by dispersed, declining populations and the Government is determined to put an end to this disadvantage in rural communities.

The areas selected under CLÁR are those which have suffered the greatest depopulation since 1926, with the exception of the Cooley peninsula, which has been included based on the serious difficulties caused by foot and mouth disease. The average population loss in these selected areas is 51% and the total population that will benefit from the programme is 284,000. The 16 areas in the programme include parts of the counties of Connacht-Ulster, parts of five counties in Munster as well as parts of four counties in Leinster.
CLÁR will fast-track national development plan spending in the selected areas through reprioritisation of spending measures in the NDP relating to physical, social and community infrastructure. An extra dedicated budget of €12.7 million per annum has been allocated to ensure the success of the programme in 2002 and 2003. This fund will be directed towards special projects that might not otherwise be funded, even under reprioritisation of the NDP. The bulk of this money will be spent on public and community infrastructure, e.g. broadband, roads, water, sports facilities, health services and education, which have largely been identified by the communities themselves. For that purpose, following the launch of the programme, Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív engaged in a public consultation process involving meetings with the county councils and the county development boards in the selected areas and the public at large.
The programme is being implemented by my Department in consultation with the communities themselves and the relevant county development boards. A CLÁR section has been established within my Department which is in constant contact with the county development boards, the county councils and the other Departments and State agencies involved in implementing the programme. The county development boards' strategies, now being finalised, provided an important basis for identifying the priorities in the CLÁR areas.
The priorities identified are being dealt with in three modules: local authority – roads, water, sewerage, village renewal, coastal erosion, piers – industry, enterprise and tourism, health, education and community.
The Minister of State is in discussion with the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the county councils to copperfasten the funding mechanisms under module 1 and has already agreed and announced procedures for supporting group water projects, non-national roads and small water and sewerage schemes in CLÁR areas. It is anticipated that further measures and funding for individual projects in selected areas under this module will be announced shortly.
It is important to note that CLÁR will not set up parallel structures to the existing agencies, thus creating further duplication and bureaucracy, and is implementing its programmes, including selection of individual projects, through the agencies with day to day responsibility for the different programmes and in consultation with the relevant Departments.
A very broad range of projects will be supported under the programme and it is hoped to finalise the allocation of this year's funding across each category shortly.
Top
Share