I propose to take Questions Nos. 1712 and 1747 together.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. CLÁR was effectively closed to new applications from 2010 and any funding provided over the period 2011-2015 was in respect of commitments made prior to 2010.
I re-launched the CLÁR programme in 2016, and €8.293 million was allocated to 651 successful projects last year.
The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched in March of this year, with a closing date of 5 May. In total, more than 500 applications were received and 231 successful projects were approved for funding, to a value of just under €7 million.
Table 1 provides details of the total funding provided and/or allocated through the CLÁR programme each year from 2011 to 2017. All funding provided over the period 2011-2015 was in respect of earlier commitments made under different Departmental configurations.
Table 1 – Funding provided under the CLÁR programme 2011-2015
Year
|
Funding provided/approved (€)
|
Number of Projects
|
2011
|
348,000
|
N/A
|
2012
|
91,000
|
N/A
|
2013
|
105,000
|
N/A
|
2014
|
49,253
|
N/A
|
2015
|
0
|
N/A
|
2016
|
8,238,866
|
651
|
2017
|
6,912,350
|
231
|