Thomas Byrne
Ceist:586. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of CLÁR funding for 2019 will open. [5453/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 5 February 2019
Ceisteanna (586)
Freagraí scríofa
The CLÁR programme is an important part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered high levels of population decline.
The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of designated CLÁR areas with the aim of encouraging people to continue live and work in those areas. The funding provided under CLÁR works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities.
The CLÁR programme was closed for new applications in 2010. However, I re-launched the programme in the second half of 2016 and since then, over 1,200 projects have been approved for total funding of €25 million.
The type of projects which have been supported include safety measures around schools and community facilities, the provision of play areas, supports for emergency First Responders, and a measure to provide vehicles to transport people to cancer care and respite centres.
I intend to launch a further call for proposals under CLÁR this year and I will be making decisions regarding the specific measures to be supported in 2019, in the coming weeks. I anticipate that the programme will be opened for new applications shortly.