Press release
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces €7.4 million for 175 community projects nationwide
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (Monday 15 August) announced almost €7.4 million in funding to support 175 community projects nationwide.
Sports Clubs, Schools and Community Groups will receive grants of up to €50,000 to develop a wide and diverse range of community facilities in rural areas with successful projects including Outdoor Cinemas, Astro-Turfs, Sensory Gardens, Hurling Walls, Basketball Courts, Walkways, Public Toilets, Community Gyms, Renovations to old Handball Alleys and much more.
The funding is being provided as part of ‘Our Rural Future’, the government’s ambitious policy for rural development.
Announcing the successful projects, Minister Humphreys said:
“Our Rural Future is all about a ground-up approach to rural development. Every community is different and the people who know best what their town, village or parish needs are the people who live there. It was for that very reason that I broadened the scope of the CLÁR Programme this year to allow for a much wider range of eligible projects. The response from communities across the country has been overwhelming and that is evidenced by the diverse range and variety of successful projects under this year’s scheme. I am pleased to award funding to a record number of applications this year. This funding will supports Sports Clubs, Schools, local Development Associations and other community groups in developing community facilities which will benefit people of all ages in our rural communities.
"The recent census results show that there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before. This hugely positive. The funding I am announcing today will support communities to develop great facilities for families to enjoy. Astro-Turfs, Sensory Gardens, Handball Alleys, Outdoor Cinemas, Hurling Walls, Basketball Courts, Walkways, Public Toilets, Community Gyms, Youth Hubs, Community Cafés…these are just a few examples of the wide range of projects we are supporting today. I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants and I wish them the best of luck in carrying out these works which will make our rural communities even more attractive places to live, work and raise a family. In view of the hugely positive response from communities, I am exploring the possibility of providing further funding for a second tranche of projects under CLÁR and I hope to make an announcement on this in the near future.”
Examples of some of the successful projects receiving funding today include:
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 5-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.
CLÁR funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. CLÁR 2022 was announced in February 2022 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’
Today's announcement relates to Measure 1 of the Programme. Measures 2 and 3 of the Programme were announced earlier in the year.