merrion street

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Friday, June 24th) announced over €412,000 to support 11 different projects on our offshore islands.

The funding for community groups of a new ‘Our Islands’ measure under the Department’s CLÁR Programme and is designed to make our islands more attractive places to live and visit.

Among the projects being funded include:

• Co Galway: Coiste Chomhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin - €114,147 for the purchase of a plug-in hybrid minibus, PV panels, and a plug-in charging point.

• Co Cork: Bere Island Projects Group CLG - €72,693 to fund an electric wheelchair accessible bus with PV charging panels on the community Centre.

• Co Donegal: Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaiochta Árainn Mhór - €24,224 for the placement of recycled plastic, outdoor seating throughout the Island for use by walkers and cyclists.

• Co Mayo: Inishturk Community Club CLG - €11,476.60 to purchase fencing to secure and make safe the boundaries of the playground

• Co Galway: Inis Oírr Comhar Caomhán Teo - €56,814.83 for the enhancement of existing public toilets facilities and associated litter/recycling infrastructure

The funding is for community groups is on top of the €1.62 million announced by Minister Humphreys this week to support community first responders across the country.

Announcing the funding for the island groups, the Minister said:

“I am delighted to announce over €412,000 for 11 successful projects under the new ‘Our Islands’ measure, which comes under my Department’s CLÁR Programme.

“Community and voluntary organisations play a critical role in providing vital services to our offshore communities – making them more attractive places to live and visit.

“These islands have seen significant levels of depopulation over the years and face challenges such as rural isolation and population decline.

“I was therefore delighted to tailor the CLÁR Programme so that specific supports could be channelled directly to our island communities.”

ENDS

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-773 6843 / 087-1734633

Press.office@drcd.gov.ie

Note to Editors:

The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and forms part of the Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future.

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.  There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. Details of the designated areas can be found here.

CLÁR funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. Originally launched in 2001 but closed for applications in 2009, the CLÁR Programme was reintroduced in 2016. CLÁR 2022 was announced in February 2022 with applications invited under 3 Measures:

Measure 1:    Developing Community Facilities & Amenities (to be announced at a later date)

Measure 2:    Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport

Measure 3:    ‘Our Islands’

Details of the successful projects are appended and can also be found here

Successful Measure 3 Applications