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Gnáthamharc

Community Development.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (58)

Liz McManus

Ceist:

113 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position with regard to the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27967/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I introduced the CLÁR programme in October 2001 to address depopulation as well as the decline and lack of services in rural areas. The agreed programme for Government contained a commitment to annual funding for the CLÁR programme and to consider additional areas for inclusion in light of the 2002 population census data. The Government decided on the additional areas for inclusion in the CLÁR programme and I announced these on 17 January 2003. Areas in 18 counties, amounting to a total population of 361,000, are included in the programme.

CLÁR funds or co-funds, together with other Departments, State agencies and local authorities, investment in selected priority developments. These investments are made through a series of more than 20 measures, which support physical, economic and social infrastructure such as electricity conversion, roads, water and sewerage, village, housing and schools enhancement, health, broadband and sports and community projects. The measures reflect the priorities identified by the communities in the selected areas whom I consulted at the start of the programme.

The measures were agreed with and are operated in tandem with the lead Departments, State agencies or public utilities, as appropriate. This ensures efficiency and effectiveness and meets the needs of the people in the CLÁR areas. I intend to continue this practice for new measures I may introduce, depending on identified needs. Equally, I will keep the operation of existing measures under review.

The merits of this practice are reflected in the successful delivery of the programme. Expenditure amounted to €14.14 million in 2002 and €8.613 million in 2003 which, it is estimated, secured a further €21 million in related public and private expenditure in these areas, which otherwise would have been bottom of the list for infrastructure investment. To date in 2004, more than €19 million has been allocated to the counties in CLÁR under the various measures operating under the programme. A number of measures operate on a two-year cycle, 2004 and 2005, and this is reflected in the funding allocated. The bulk of the approved funding in 2004 for other areas will not fall for payment in the same year, for example, top-up funding under the 2004 sports capital programme.

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