Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
1144. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when decisions will be made on amending the areas which are designated as CLÁR following the review of CLÁR areas nationally that was undertaken in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37167/22]
View answer1145. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will make the defective block issue in Inishowen and other areas in County Donegal as a determining factor in deciding which electoral divisions are designated as her Department considers the review of CLÁR areas nationally undertaken in 2021, given that there is precedent for same given that the original CLÁR included the Cooley peninsula on the basis of contemporaneous serious difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37168/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1144 and 1145 together.
The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period.
A review of CLÁR areas nationally was undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 Census of Population data. The review examined the most recent changes in population patterns throughout the country on the basis of 2016 Census data. It also examined the approach to developing the existing CLÁR designations, which is based on 2002 data and it considered how changes in population since then impacted on designations. Many areas will have seen population growth in the relevant period, and indeed the most recent census data published by the Central Statistics Office point to population growth across all counties since 2016. The details of the review are being considered by my Department before any decisions are made in relation to areas which are designated as eligible for CLÁR.
The CLÁR Programme has closed for 2022. In advance of the launch of CLÁR next year I will review the supports under the programme.
