Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
38. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to run a special module under the CLÁR programme 2017 for local improvement scheme roads; if it will be a condition of this that co-funding is available from the local authorities in question; if funding will be allocated on the basis of the population in the CLÁR area in each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37356/16]
View answerThe reopening of CLÁR this year forms part of the Government’s programme to support rural development, which has also recently seen the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a new phase of the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) initiative, and funding for rural recreation infrastructure under the Rural Recreation Scheme.
The 2016 CLÁR programme will provide funding for three separate measures: Safety Measures for Schools and Community/Sports Facilities, Playgrounds and Multi-Use Games Areas, and Local Access Roads. I will be announcing funding for the successful projects in the coming days.
Local Authorities are required to meet 20% of the total project cost under the Playgrounds and Local Access Roads strands of the programme; the Safety Measures will be 100% funded by my Department.
I have secured an allocation of €5 million for CLÁR for 2017 as part of Budget 2017. Decisions on the particular measures to be implemented through CLÁR for 2017 and the basis for the allocation of funding will be taken in the New Year.
