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Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development, today 01 December 2016, announced the allocation of €8.24 million in funding to 651 projects under CLÁR 2016.

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced significant depopulation.

The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of identified CLÁR areas by attracting people to live and work there.  The funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. The programme has been effectively closed for new applications since 2009 but was reopened by Minister Ring on the 6^th of October 2016 and funding is being provided under these three measures:

•  Safety package for Schools/Community Facilities

• Outdoor Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme/support for the development of Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA).
• Local Access Roads 

In announcing the funding Minister Ring said “I am delighted to be able to announce this funding for very worthy projects in disadvantaged rural areas. Initially I had allocated €3million for the scheme but I was able to secure increased funding once it became apparent that there was significant demand on the ground for these types of projects”.  

The Minister added that “it is important that issues such as safety at schools and community centres and the development of amenities for young people in rural areas are addressed.  I am confident that the funding provided through CLÁR will support communities as they look to ensure their children are safe and have recreational amenities available to them in their own communities”.

The Minister said “It is also important that communities are able to access the natural resources in their area for their own health and social benefit and to offer attractive options to visitors to the area. It is in this context that €1.35 million funding was allocated to support the maintenance and development of Local Access Roads to beaches and waterways and other community amenities in order to facilitate the safe use of these resources by the local community and visitors alike”.

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Note to the Editor

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced significant depopulation. The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of identified CLÁR areas by attracting people to live and work there.  The funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. The programme has been effectively closed for new applications since 2009 but was reopened by Minister Ring on the 6^th of October 2016 and funding is being provided under these three measures:

•  Safety package for Schools/Community Facilities

• Outdoor Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme/support for the development of Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA).
• Local Access Roads