Community Development Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023

Tuesday, 18 April 2023

Questions (1842)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1842. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the new round of Clár funding could be applied for by a school and a club (details supplied) jointly to develop a new car park and drop-off area that would take traffic off the local road and ensure better road safety in the local area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17126/23]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

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 de-population over a defined period.

Since the CLÁR programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects. Under the CLÁR 2022 programme, funding of over €12 million was approved for almost 300 projects.

I launched the 2023 CLÁR programme in March of this year and the measures to be supported are:

• Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)

• Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)

• ‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)

School and community safety projects were previously eligible for support under CLÁR but since the launch of dedicated funding streams such as the Safe Routes to School Programme and the Active Travel Programme this is no longer the case.

The Safe Routes to School Programme (SRSP) aims to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing improvements to walking and cycling facilities. It is funded by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, through the National Transport Authority and with support from the Department of Education. The Active Travel Grants Programme, also managed by the National Transport Authority, funds important projects supporting strategic pedestrian and cyclist routes, and includes funding to enhance safe access to schools.