Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
462. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an extension can be given to an organisation (details supplied) to draw down is Clár funding for a new bus as the bus supplier has informed the organisation that the bus will not be ready in time for its end-of-June deadline, and the organisation is hoping that it can be given an extension for drawdown to 30 September 2023. [31783/23]
View answerThe 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.
Since its relaunch in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, and funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects.
In 2022 CLÁR’s Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport Measure facilitated the purchase of vehicles by voluntary organisations based in CLÁR areas. This was with a view to facilitating:
• transport to/from day care/other medical/therapy/respite services for those with significant mobility issues including requiring specialised wheelchair accessible vehicles; or
• transport to/from designated cancer treatment hospitals/centres under the National Cancer Care Programme; or
• Community First Response Support/Search and Rescue organisations
The project in question was approved funding under this Measure and my Department will make contact with the organisation regarding a project extension.
