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CLÁR Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2019

Thursday, 24 October 2019

Questions (12, 15)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

12. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the approved projects for CLÁR funding for the north Cork region in 2018 and 2019; and the number of approved projects that have received funding to date in the region. [43808/19]

View answer

Michael Moynihan

Question:

15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of CLÁR funding for the north Cork region. [43807/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 15 together.

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small infrastructure projects in rural areas which have suffered high levels of population loss.  The programme was closed for new applications in 2010.  However, I re-launched CLÁR in 2016 and since then, almost €33 million has been allocated to over 1,400 projects under the programme.

Not all areas are eligible for CLÁR funding, as CLÁR areas are determined by the level of population loss using CSO data. The area within each county that is eligible for CLÁR varies greatly.  For example, Leitrim is a relatively small county but all of Leitrim is designated as a CLÁR area.  A number of counties do not have any CLÁR areas at all.

There was a huge level of interest in the CLÁR Programme this year, with almost 500 applications received.  The level of funding sought in those applications far exceeded the available budget.

Nonetheless, almost €6 million has been allocated to 179 projects under the CLÁR programme this year. This includes funding for 8 projects in County Cork to the value of almost €300,000.

A total of €1.89 million has now been allocated to 74 projects in Cork county as a whole since 2016 under CLÁR.  Details of all projects approved under the programme are available on the Gov.ie website.

The level of funding approved under Measures 1 and 2 of the CLÁR Programme (Schools and Play Areas) this year reflected the extent of the designated CLÁR areas in each county.  Counties which have a larger percentage of their geographic area in CLÁR had more projects approved than counties that have a smaller percentage in CLÁR. 

I think that the approach taken is fair, given the targeted nature of the programme.  Other counties perform well in relation to other rural and community development programmes delivered by my Department.

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