Policy information
CLÁR-Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects
From Department of Rural and Community Development
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The CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas.
Reopened in 2016, CLÁR aims to support sustainable development in identified 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 scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. It is delivered by local authorities in consultation with groups in local communities.
For further queries please contact CLAR@drcd.gov.ie
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd Riachtanais) or Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small-scale - infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.
The 2024 CLÁR Scheme is now open to applications
The Measures being funded under the 2024 CLÁR Programme are:
- Measure 1 : Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
- Measure 2 : Mobility, Cancer Care, Community First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport
- Measure 3 : ‘Our Islands’
More Information on the 2024 scheme can be found here.
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd Riachtanais) or Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small-scale - infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.
The 2023 CLÁR Scheme is now closed.
The Measures being funded under the 2023 CLÁR Programme were:
Measure 1 : Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Measure 2 : Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
Measure 3 : “Our Islands”
More information on the 2023 CLÁR measures can be found here .
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd Riachtanais) or Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small-scale - infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.
The 2022 CLÁR Scheme is now closed
The Measures being funded under the 2022 CLÁR Programme are:
Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
Measure 3: “Our Islands”
CLÁR 2021 programme is now closed.
The measures funded under the 2021 CLÁR programme were:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measure
Measure 2: Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Measure:
(a) Community Gardens & Allotments
(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
CLÁR Innovation Measure: Funding for innovative or pilot projects that address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas.
The measures funded under the 2020 CLÁR programme were:
Measure 1: Schools/Community Safety measures (expanded in 2020)
Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new in 2020)
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising:
(a)Meals on Wheels and linked services (new in 2020)
(b)Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
The 2019 programme is now closed to applications.
The Measures which were funded under the 2019 CLÁR programme were:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety measures
Measure 2: Play Areas (including Multi-Use Games Areas)
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports (new in 2019), comprising of:
(a) First Response Support
(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
(c) Sensory Gardens
The 2018 CLÁR programme has funding provided under these measures:
- support for schools/community safety measures
- play areas
- first response support measures
- support for mobility and cancer care transport
On 10 August 2018, Minister Ring launched a further CLÁR measure to recognise the role of volunteer organisations in the provision of vital services. These services include providing transport to and from medical support services for those with significant mobility issues, and to and from designated cancer treatment hospitals and centres under the National Cancer Control Programme.
Minister Michael Ring TD, announced on 31 March 2017 details of the CLÁR programme for 2017.
The 2017 CLÁR programme saw funding provided under four measures:
- support for schools/community safety measures
- play areas
- targeted community infrastructure needs
- first response support measures
The programme had been effectively closed for new applications since 2009 but was reopened by Minister Ring on 6 October 2016 with funding provided under the following 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
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