Fine Gael TD for Cork East and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton has welcomed confirmation this week of a total of €123,500 funding for rural development projects in Cork East consituency. Funding of €83,500 has been allocated to initiatives in East and North Cork under the CLAR programme and €40,000 under the REDZ progamme.
“CLÁR is an investment programme that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in rural communities that have experienced significant depopulation. The programme had been effectively closed for new applications since 2009, but was reopened by Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring TD on the 6th of October 2016.
“A number of schools and community groups based in my constituency of Cork East applied for and were awarded funding for road improvement and safety measures”, said Minister Stanton
“Inch NS secured €24,000 for road improvements, footpaths and set down areas outside the school and Curraglass NS and Conna NS received €7,500 each for speed safety signs outside the schools. Glanworth Village also secured €7,500 for speed safety signs and €22,000 was allocated to Castletownroche for an installation of a pedestrian crossing, beacon lights, drainage, road reinstatement and markings on Main Street.
“In addition to CLAR funding, REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zone) Programme funding was also announced this week and I was pleased that €40,000 has been allocated to undertake a feasibility study of the North Cork Blueway in the Fermoy and Mitchelstown area.
“CLAR, REDZ, the Rural Recreation Scheme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme were all established by to help deliver Government funding to encourage economic growth and improve amenities in rural communities and stimulate regional development. These schemes will soon be complemented by an Action Plan for Rural Development which I understand will be launched in the coming weeks by Minister for Regional Development, rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphries.
