From Department of Rural and Community Development
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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Friday, 12th January 2024) announced almost €6.2 million in funding for community and sports facilities nationwide.
The funding, under the 2023 CLÁR Programme, will support the delivery of 152 projects including astro-turf pitches, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks nature trails, outdoor performance spaces and community cafés.
Announcing the details of funding today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted today to announce funding of almost €6.2 million, which will see the delivery of 152 high quality community and sports projects nationwide.
“This funding is being provided under the 2023 CLÁR Programme and is all about ensuring that some of our most rural communities benefit from projects that will make them more vibrant places to live, work and visit.
“So from astro-turf pitches, playgrounds and sensory gardens to walking tracks, nature trails, outdoor performance spaces and community cafés – these projects really will make a difference to the lives of people of all ages and abilities.
“This funding is on top of the €4.7 million that I announced in December, which focussed predominantly on supporting our GAA and other sports clubs.
“All of this investment is being delivered under our rural development policy, ‘Our Rural Future’, which is having a transformational impact right across Rural Ireland.”
Examples of the successful projects include:
Minister Humphreys continued:
“I’m also pleased to announce today that we are providing specific funding today for a number of projects on our offshore islands.
“Supporting our islands is a key priority of mine as Minister and this investment goes to the heart of what we are trying to achieve through our ten-year island strategy, ‘Our Living Islands’.”
The funding under CLÁR is being provided as part of Our Rural Future, the Government’s strategic five-year plan to revitalise our rural towns and villages nationwide.
Today’s announcement builds on the €4.7 million announced in December 2023 under Measure 1 of the CLÁR programme to support 113 sports infrastructure projects and €2 million for 37 projects which was announced for Measure 2 of the CLÁR programme. This brings the total investment to €13 million in support of 302 projects in CLÁR areas nationwide in 2023.
Since the CLÁR programme was reintroduced in 2016, funding of over €70 million has been approved for almost 2,400 projects.
Minister Humphreys added:
“The additional funding I am announcing today will further support community groups and schools across the country in the development and enhancement of community facilities which I have no doubt will be greatly welcomed and enjoyed by all who use them.”
Minister Humphreys concluded:
“I want to commend the work of all the successful applicants under the 2023 CLÁR programme. Each of the successful applicants can look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labours. I very much look forward to seeing these projects being delivered in the year ahead.”
The full list of successful projects announced today under Measure 1 - Community and Measure 3 are available here
ENDS
Notes:
The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and forms part of the Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future.
CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. Details of the designated areas can be found here .
CLÁR funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. CLÁR 2023 was announced in March 2023 with applications invited under 3 Measures:
Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’
Details of the successful projects can also be found here
Today’s announcement relates to Measures 1 community related projects and Measure 3 “Our Islands”.
Projects under Measure 1 focusing on sports related projects were announced in December 2023. Measure 2 of the Programme was announced in August 2023.