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Minister Ring approves over €714,000 in funding for 25 community groups for the development of specialist sensory gardens

Mr Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, today (Monday, 16 September), announced details of over €714,000 for 25 community groups who will receive funding for specialist sensory gardens under the Department’s 2019 CLÁR programme.

Speaking today, Minister Ring said:

“This year’s CLÁR programme will, for the first time, provide funding for the development of specialist sensory gardens and complementary play equipment. These gardens are designed to stimulate the senses and can be of particular benefit in enhancing the quality of life for people with a diverse range of life challenges.”

2019 is the first year that this measure, Specialist Sensory Gardens and Complementary Play Equipment, has been funded under the programme. A sensory garden is designed to stimulate the senses by using flowers, plants and materials that engage one’s senses of sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. They provide benefit to all members of the community, as places for recreation and education.

Minister Ring continued:

“I am delighted to support the development of these gardens, which I know will create comfortable, relaxing environments for everyone to enjoy, no matter what their age or ability. I see the hard work done by members of community groups up and down the country, and I am pleased that my Department can play its part in the work of this government to support and invest in communities for the benefit of all.”

Notes to editors: 

CLÁR provides funding for small scale capital projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development which was launched in January 2017. The CLÁR programme is also an important part of the overall integrated strategy to support stronger rural economies and communities for Rural Development through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

Areas targeted under the CLÁR Programme are parts of counties Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and all of County Leitrim.

Since it was relaunched in 2016, over 1,400 CLÁR projects have been funded in the areas targeted.

2019 is the first year that this measure, Specialist Sensory Gardens and Complementary Play Equipment, has been funded under the programme.

This list of projects receiving funding this year are:

County

Organisation

Project Details

Funding Amount

CAVAN

Cavan Autism Parents Support CLG  Sensory Garden

Sensory Garden

€25,500.00

CAVAN

Project Belturbet

Sensory Garden

€10,200.00

CORK

Bantry Peace Park Sensory Garden

Sensory Garden

€25,500.00

CORK

Ballymakeera Tidy Towns

Sensory Garden

€24,557.00

GALWAY

Lawrencetown Community Development Group

Sensory Garden

€13,943.03

GALWAY

Muintearas Teo

Sensory Garden

€46,622.50

KERRY

An Díseart

Sensory Garden

€34,000.00

KERRY

Social Action Group Rathmore

Sensory Garden

€19,356.00

LAOIS

Coolrain Playground

Sensory Garden

€59,160.00

LEITRIM

Kiltyclogher Community Council

Sensory Garden

€34,663.00

LEITRIM

Childhood Days Drumshanbo

Sensory Garden

€6,899.89

LOUTH

Maria Goretti Foundation

Sensory Garden

€16,923.50

LONGFORD

Ballinalee Community Group

Sensory Garden

€21,452.30

LONGFORD

St Marys Community Campus

Sensory Garden

€6,193.70

MAYO

Barony Community Dev. Group

Sensory Garden

€60,000.00

MAYO

Keenagh Devlopment Committee

Sensory Garden

€20,000.00

MONAGHAN

Youth Work Ireland Cavan Monaghan

Sensory youth and community Space

€5,950.00

MONAGHAN

Aghabog Early Years

Sensory Garden

€11,176.00

ROSCOMMON

Kilronan Community Playschool

Sensory Garden

€23,800.00

ROSCOMMON

Keadue Sportsfield Sensory Garden

Sensory Garden

€44,559.04

SLIGO

Dromore West Community Council

Sensory Garden

€51,000.00

TIPPERARY

Ballysloe Tidy Towns

Sensory Garden

€51,000.00

TIPPERARY

Ballyporeen Community Council Ltd.

Sensory Garden

€51,000.00

WESTMEATH

Raharney Community Park

Sensory Garden

€17,000.00

WICKLOW

Knockananna Community Group - Sensory Garden

Sensory Garden

€34,000.00