I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 171, 178 and 181 together.
As Deputy Crawford states, the population included in the extended CLÁR Programme has almost doubled. However, I would like to assure him that there has, in fact, been a corresponding pro-rata increase in funding for the Programme.
The provision for the original Programme in the 2006 Abridged Book of Estimates was nearly €14m. This equates to an average provision of over €1m per month in the full year. I announced the extended areas in April 2006 and the additional funding of €9m that I secured allows for a similar level of investment in the extended areas for the remaining 8 months of the year.
The breakdown of the €22.95m available for the Programme in 2006 under the various headings and expenditure to date (approx. €3.35m) under the Programme on a county basis are detailed in Tables A and B respectively. I am confident that a comprehensive work programme will be completed in all the areas included in the Programme from the funding available this year.
No specific allocations are made to community groups from each year's Estimates provision for the Programme. Measures under the Programme with a particular community emphasis are — Sports Capital Top-up Grants; Gaeltacht Sport and Community Top-up Grants; Village and Countryside Enhancement Scheme; Bi-lingual Signage Scheme and Community Initiatives of a Capital Nature. These measures are, in the main, demand-led and projects are approved for CLÁR funding on the recommendation of the relevant Departments, State agencies or LEADER groups. With the exception of the Sports Capital Grants for 2006, communities in the extended CLÁR areas can benefit immediately under these measures.
In relation to LEADER funding being allocated to projects eligible for CLÁR funding, this is primarily a matter for each LEADER Company. I have already made additional funding available to LEADER companies, over the allocation in the NDP. Consideration will be given to allocating further funding available to LEADER companies as the year progresses.
Table A — Breakdown by Heading
CLÁR Programme
|
2006 Estimates Provision
|
|
(€000s)
|
Road and Water Schemes
|
15,382
|
Sport, Community & Enhancement Schemes
|
2,825
|
Health and Education
|
2,643
|
Energy & Telecommunications
|
915
|
Other
|
1,185
|
Total
|
22,950
|
Table B — Expenditure by County
County
|
Expenditure To Date 2006 (09/06/2006)
|
|
(€000s)
|
Cavan
|
64
|
Clare
|
174
|
Cork
|
348
|
Donegal
|
41
|
Galway
|
54
|
Kerry
|
137
|
Leitrim
|
976
|
Limerick
|
0
|
Longford
|
51
|
Louth
|
0
|
Mayo
|
1,292
|
Meath
|
0
|
Monaghan
|
3.4
|
Roscommon
|
88
|
Sligo
|
74
|
Tipperary North
|
19
|
Tipperary South
|
0
|
Waterford
|
0
|
Westmeath
|
3.3
|
Total
|
3,324.7
|