The €5 million CLÁR scheme for 2020 has been launched by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Galway East TD and Minister for Rural Affairs Seán Canney has urged Galway community groups, schools, clubs and health organisations to apply for funding.
Minister Canney said: “CLÁR is part of a €30 million package of schemes for Rural Ireland being launched by my department this week and it is specifically aimed at areas of population decline.
“It is a great opportunity for community services and facilities that need support and has provided vital investment for rural areas.
“Last year successful CLÁR funding in Galway East included more than €68,000 towards the cost of an accessible vehicle for the Irish Wheelchair Association, €50,000 for an accessible vehicle for the Galway Hospice, €50,000 for car parking and footpaths at Brownesgrove National School, Tuam, €45,000 for footpaths and public lighting for St Colman’s Trust in Gort and nearly €14,000 towards a sensory garden in Lawrencetown.
“These are the kind of initiatives and projects that make all the difference to local communities.”
The three measures being funded under the 2020 CLÁR programme are:
Measure 1: Schools/Community Safety measures
Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising meals on wheels and linked services; and mobility and cancer care transport.
The inclusion of community recreation areas and meals on wheels and related services are new for 2020.
Minister Canney said: “I am delighted that the scope of the scheme has been expanded and adapted to take account of the COVID-19 crisis. The measure for schools and community groups will include projects aimed at health and safety requirements that has arisen because of the coronavirus.
“The funding for community recreational areas will be important in supporting compliance with the Government’s roadmap for easing restrictions while meal services will need to adapt to public hygiene guidelines around the handling and preparation of food.
“I acknowledge the support of my ministerial colleague Michael Ring TD for these measures.
“He has also introduced a standard grant rate of up to 90% of the total cost of CLÁR projects this year.
“This should ensure that the scheme’s requirement on communities or Local Authorities to source match funding is kept to a minimum.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Notes for Editors
Background
The CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme was originally launched in October 2001 but was closed for applications in 2010. The scheme was re-opened by Minister Michael Ring in 2016 to support the development of remote rural areas through small-scale capital projects involving collaboration between Local Authorities and communities. The CLÁR programme has awarded funding to 1,437 projects since 2016, with funding of almost €33 million.
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.

Measure details
The CLÁR programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is delivered, for the most part, by the Local Authorities in consultation with local communities.
Up to 10 applications in total will be invited from relevant Local Authorities in respect of Measures 1 and 2. The maximum grant funding for projects under Measures 1 & 2 is €50,000.
Measures 3(a) and 3(b) will be operated directly by the Department and will be open to applications from established organisations/groups who are involved in (a) providing meals on wheels and related services or (b) in the provision of transport services on a voluntary basis, free of charge, to people requiring wheelchair accessible vehicles to access day care or other medical therapy or respite services and/or those requiring transport to/from hospitals for treatment under the National Cancer Care Programme.
Measure 3(a) will provide maximum grant funding of €20,000 while Measure 3(b) will provide funding of up to €50,000 for the purchase of a wheelchair accessible vehicles, or €100,000 for a bus.
Additional time is also being provided for Local Authorities and other organisations to submit applications this year. The closing date for receipt of applications by the Department is 28th August 2020 for all Measures.
Rural Development Investment Programme
The Department of Rural and Community Development’s Rural Development Investment Programme includes a number of integrated funding interventions:
o Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)
o Town and Village Renewal Scheme
o CLÁR
o Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
o Local Improvement Scheme
o LEADER
o Walks Scheme
The Department’s total funding allocation for 2020 for the Rural Development Investment Programme is €149.7 million.

A map of Galway CLÁR areas is attached.

For more information, contact Minister Canney on 086-2513639
May 25 2020