Press release
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces over €1.6 million for community first responders
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (Wednesday, 22 June) announced over €1.6 million for community first responders across the country.
The funding will be used to purchase vehicles designed to transport people who have mobility issues or people being treated for cancer.
Community groups that perform roles such as transporting blood samples from hospitals and delivering medication, will also be supported under the initiative.
Mountain Rescue Teams, Air Ambulances and Sub-Aqua Groups are also to receive funding.
Overall, Minister Humphreys is announcing €1.62 million under Measure 2 of the CLÁR Programme – supporting the purchase of a record 32 vehicles in rural communities.
Among the projects being supported include:
- Purchase of vehicle: €30,400
- Purchase of Wheelchair accessible 8 seater bus: €50,000
- Purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicle: €100,000
- Purchase of vehicle: €36,000
- Purchase of vehicle: €45,000
- Purchase of minibus: €69,000
- Purchase of vehicle: €37,641.60
Announcing the successful projects, Minister Humphreys said:
“The groups that we are supporting today play a vital role in their communities. They provide critical services, bringing people free of charge to cancer treatment and day care centres, as well as transporting blood samples, medication and performing rescue services. We are all indebted to these organisations and I am delighted to support them through this investment. This year, 32 organisations have been successful under this measure – the highest number of projects to date. The allocation is double on last year’s reflecting my desire as Minister to give these groups continued support. This year I am also supporting community based first responders as well as voluntary search and rescue organisations. I know that these vehicles will make a real difference it the communities which they serve.”
The measures being funded under the 2022 CLÁR programme are:
Successful applications under Measure 1 and 3 of CLÁR will be announced at a later date.
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.
CLÁR funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. Originally launched in 2001 but closed for applications in 2009, the CLÁR Programme was reintroduced in 2016. CLÁR 2022 was announced in February 2022 with applications invited under 3 Measures: