Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
628. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on CLÁR 2024; when it is likely to open; whether she has any plans to review the CLÁR areas in Cavan and Monaghan to include areas not currently included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48130/23]
View answerI launched the 2023 CLÁR Programme in March this year and the measures to be funded are:
• Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)
• Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)
• ‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)
I announced the successful projects under measure 2 in August 2023. The assessment process is underway for measure 1 and 3 applications and a the successful projects under those measures will be announced in the coming weeks.
I hope to launch the 2024 CLÁR programme again in the new year following a review of measures to be included.
A review of CLÁR areas nationally, including Cavan and Monaghan, 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 continue to be considered by my Department in advance of any decision being made in relation to areas which are designated as eligible for CLÁR. This includes a consideration of whether any further updates are required in respect of the new Census data.
