Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, today (Monday, 26 August 2019) announced details of funding of €3.8 million to support 104 projects in rural communities under Measures 1 and 2 of the CLÁR programme 2019. The funding will support Safety Measures and Play Areas for schools and communities.
CLÁR provides funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered high levels of rural depopulation. Measure 1 of the programme includes support for the provision of footpaths, public lighting, pedestrian crossings, speed safety signs and car parking facilities. Measure 2 supports the construction of new playgrounds and Multi Use Games Areas, as well as the upgrade of existing playgrounds and equipment in many communities. All of the funding is designed to improve the quality of life for people in these very rural areas.
Speaking today Minister Ring said:
Last month I announced CLÁR funding of over €1.4 million in respect of 50 projects for First Response Support and Mobility and Cancer Care Transport. Today I am delighted to announce further funding under the 2019 CLÁR Programme of over €3.8 million which will benefit 104 communities in CLÁR areas. This is all being made possible through the Government’s investment under Project Ireland 2040.
Since I reintroduced the CLÁR Programme in 2016, it has provided funding to over 1,300 projects throughout the country under various measures. The value of this support for disadvantaged rural communities is clear to see from the level of applications under the 2019 CLÁR programme.
We must remember that the communities themselves have fundraised and worked alongside their Local Authorities to put forward these initiatives, and the CLÁR programme is ideally placed to reward that collaborative spirit. I am delighted in my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development to be able to contribute in a positive way to the efforts of these communities to make their towns and villages more attractive places for families to live and settle, in line with the aims of the programme.
The projects announced today will help improve safety around schools and within the wider community. They also provide children within the community a place to explore and develop through play. This investment in our children will always be money well spent. In that regard, further projects may be announced under Measures 1 and 2 of the CLÁR programme if additional funding becomes available as a result of savings elsewhere in my Department.
Notes 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 Action Plan for Rural Development.
CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that have experienced significant depopulation in the past. The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of identified CLÁR areas with the aim of attracting people to live and work there. The 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 reopened on the 6th October 2016.
CLÁR 2019 was announced in March 2019 with applications invited under 3 Measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas (including Multi Use Games Area’s)
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (new for 2019)
(a) First Response Support
(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport, and
(c) Sensory Gardens
Details of the successful projects under Measure 1 and 2 can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/f9051a-clar-funding-2019/
Details of the CLÁR 2019 successful projects under Measure 3(a) and 3(b) were announced in July and published on www.gov.ie/drcd.