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Minister Calleary announces €2.5 million for 44 community vehicles under the CLÁR programme
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
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- Vehicles for search and rescue groups, first responders and meals on wheels service providers
- Support provided to assist people with accessing cancer care and those with mobility needs
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Thursday, 1 October 2026) announced €2.5 million to deliver 44 vehicles under measure 2 of the 2026 CLÁR programme.
The CLÁR programme funds small-scale infrastructure projects in designated rural areas through a range of different measures.
The funding announced today for vehicles under measure 2 of the scheme will empower community and voluntary organisations to continue delivering much needed services for people with reduced mobility in accessing day care and vital therapeutic treatments, and for people attending clinics to access cancer treatment. The announcement today will also provide funding towards vehicles for community first responders, search and rescue organisations and groups that provide meals on wheels in our communities.
Among the projects being funded include:
- County Cavan – Bailieboro Cancer Comfort CLG: Funding of €32,000 for a wheelchair accessible van in the Bailieboro Cootehill area.
- County Cork - Mallow Search and Rescue: Funding of €49,950 for a search and rescue boat in Kanturk.
- County Kerry - Rockmount Care Centre: Funding of €70,160 to procure an 8-seater van in Rathmore.
- County Mayo - Western Care: Funding of €74,700 for a wheelchair accessible van serving the Ballyhaunis area.
- County Offaly - North Offaly Community Development Network CLG: Funding of €24,800 for a meals on wheels van serving the Daingean area.
- County Tipperary - Irish Red Cross: Funding of €50,000 for an ambulance for Tipperary town and surrounding areas.
- County Wexford - Slaney Search and Rescue: Funding of €90,000 for a rescue jeep serving the River Slaney around the Ballyhogue district.
Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said:
“Today, I’m delighted to be allocating over €2.5 million for these vital services. These are community and voluntary groups who support us in times of need, be that through search and rescue, meals on wheels or in accessing lifesaving treatments.
“The CLÁR programme is an essential funding source for many communities across Ireland and this is the first allocation since I expanded the designated areas. There are 110 new Electoral Divisions with a population of nearly 150,000 people that are now designated as CLÁR areas.
“For the first time in the history of the CLÁR programme, there is over 1 million people living in parts of Ireland that are eligible to apply for this important funding. This expansion was a Programme for Government commitment that I was very happy to deliver on.”
The funding announced today is in respect of Measure 2 (Mobility, Cancer Care, First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport). Further announcements in respect of Measures 1 and 3 of the 2026 CLÁR programme will be made later this year.
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer TD, said:
“The CLÁR programme, now benefitting over one million people, continues to support community groups and in particular under measure 2, with vehicles to assist those in our communities who are in most need, be it through mobility transport, meals on wheels or our important search and rescue teams. This funding will deliver for rural Ireland.”
Minister Calleary concluded:
“The 44 vehicles I have approved today will have a transformative effect on many lives around the county. Through the CLÁR porgramme, these organisations are empowered to continue delivering service and supports for those in our community including those with mobility needs.”
Details of the 44 projects announced today are available here.
Notes
The CLÁR Programme
The CLAR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.
Since 2020 funding of over €65 million has been approved for some 1500 projects
Under the 2025 scheme, 238 projects were approved to the value of over €14 million.
The 2026 iteration of the CLÁR was launched on the 10th of March 2026, the closing date for receipt of applications has now passed and Departmental Officials are assessing the applications with successful projects under the remaining measures being announced before year-end.