Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
555. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason a Clár application by a club in County Kerry was unsuccessful (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68889/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. The 2025 CLÁR programme had an application process across 3 measures.
Measure 1 provides funding for community facilities and amenities and accounts for the majority of the funding under the programme. Measure 2 provides funding for vehicles to support the transport of people with reduced mobility, community first responders and meals on wheels organisations. Measure 3 is targeted at our island communities.
Last week I announced funding of almost €12 million for 198 projects under Measure 1 in addition to €356,000 for 8 island projects under Measure 3. This included funding of almost €700,000 for 10 Measure 1 projects in Kerry.
Across all Measures, this brought the total CLÁR funding in Kerry this year to over €911,000.
Under Measure 1, local authorities seek applications from local community groups in designated CLÁR areas within their county. They then assess all the applications received in order to prioritise those applications which they submit to my department as a request for CLÁR funding.
Each local authority is entitled to submit a list of 15 applications under Measure 1 to my department. An additional application was invited this year from local authorities such as Kerry with off shore island communities. These lists of applications are submitted to my department in a prioritised order which is decided at local authority level.
My department then assess the applications submitted by the local authorities by reference to scheme eligibility requirements and the total amount of funding available. On foot of this process, Kerry was allocated funding for 10 Measure 1 projects – which is the maximum amount of Measure 1 projects which could be funded under this year’s scheme.
This year saw the highest level of funding allocated under CLÁR since it was relaunched in 2016. Notwithstanding that, I understand that some groups will be disappointed. I would advise such groups that the scheme will be launched again in the new year and that there are also a range of other funding opportunities available from my Department. Details of these schemes are on my Department’s website.
