Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 April 2023
186. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of money spent under the original CLÁR programme funding for the clearing of the railway line between Collooney in Sligo and Athenry in Galway by Iarnród Éireann; the years in which the work was carried out; if he will provide details of the work that was done and the issues encountered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18395/23]
View answerThe CLÁR programme, which was originally launched in 2001, provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The Programme was closed in 2010 and then reopened in 2016.
CLÁR was re-structured and re-opened in 2016 with an increased focus on collaboration between communities and local authorities. My Department, which was established in the Summer of 2017, now manages the programme.
Due to the passage of time the Department does not have detailed records relating to the project referred to by the Deputy but I understand that in 2006 the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced provision of €5 million under the CLÁR programme to support essential clearance and preservation works on the Claremorris to Collooney stretch of the Western Rail Corridor. The works were undertaken on track 7 kms south of Claremorris, Co Mayo to 3.5 kms south of Collooney, Co Sligo.
The programme of works included fencing, hedge cutting, renewal of level crossing gates as well as the provision of some essential drainage, removal of ivy and overgrowth from bridges and the provision of mile posts. The works were carried out between 2006 and 2008 in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Iarnród Éireann and I understand that some €3.2 million of the allocation was expended on the project.
