News
CLÁR 2024: €8.7 million funding for community, sports and Island facilities
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Specific measures also target cancer care transport, community first responders, meals on wheels’ services and off-shore islands.
Almost €9 million in fresh funding has been allocated to community and sports facilities nationwide under the 2024 CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of population decline.
The programme is divided into three measures, which cover the different initiatives supported by the scheme.
Under Measure 1 of the 2024 initiative, grants from €5,000 to €50,000 are being provided to support the development of community and sports facilities, youth clubs, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks and much more.
Measure 2 supports voluntary groups that provide free transport to people receiving cancer care and other treatment as well as Community First Response Support and Search and Rescue organisations. This year organisations providing a meals on wheels service are eligible to apply.
The measure comes with maximum grants of €50,000 for a car and €100,000 for a bus.
Measure 3 is designed to support offshore island communities, with maximum grants of €120,000 available for community transport projects and up to €50,000 available for amenities projects.
| Measure | Purpose | Application due date | Where to apply | Rate of aid |
| Measure 1 | Community Facilities and Amenities | 19 June 2024 | Local authority | €5,000 - €50,000 |
| Measure 2 | Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport and Meals on Wheels services | 5 June 2024 | Department | Max. €100,000 |
| Measure 3 | 'Our Islands' | 19 June 2024 | Department | Max. €120,000 |
Measure 1 is administered by Local Authorities in consultation with local communities and applications will only be accepted directly from Local Authorities.
Measure 2 and Measure 3 are administered directly by the Department of Rural and Community Development and applications are being accepted via email to CLAR@drcd.gov.ie
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, and Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and all of County Leitrim.
A national map of CLÁR areas, together with individual county maps, is available here.
Full details can be found available on our Rural Funding page.
For further queries please contact CLAR@drcd.gov.ie