Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021
275. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date on reviewing the CLÁR areas based on the 2016 census of population; the expected date for the conclusion of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16219/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population in the past.
The areas originally designated for CLÁR were selected in 2001, based on the level of population decline at Electoral Division level between 1926 and 1996. The Cooley Peninsula was also included in the programme on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease at that time. The average population loss in the original CLÁR areas over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.
In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002. The current programme operates on the basis of those data.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department initiated a review of the CLÁR programme to examine the most recent changes in population patterns throughout the country on the basis of 2016 Census data. The review will also consider whether any factors other than depopulation should be taken into account in determining CLÁR areas in the future. NIRSA is assisting my Department with this review.
The review is nearing completion and my Department expects to receive a copy of a draft final report in the coming weeks.
