Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton, is urging local communities in Cork East to consider examine opportunities, in conjunction with Cork County Council, for funding under the 2019 CLÁR programme.
CLÁR provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered significant levels of population decline. Details of the qualifying CLÁR areas in Cork East are available on the Department of Rural & Community Development’s website at:
https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/CORK.pdf
“Funding is provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development with Cork County Council responsible for selecting the projects to be submitted for the Department’s consideration. Under measures 1 and 2 the Department provides up to 90% of the funding up to a maximum limit and the balance of the cost is then provided by the Council, local development company or local community with a minimum contribution of 5% to be provided by the school or community group. Under measure 3, 85% funding is available with 15% match funding required from the local group” explained Minister Stanton.
The measures being funded under the 2019 CLÁR programme are:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety measures
Measure 2: Play Areas (including Multi-Use Games Areas)
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports (a new measure in 2019)
Minister Stanton said “The CLÁR programme is a great example of what can be achieved when everyone works together for the good of the community. The 2019 round of funding contains exciting new measures including a “Community Wellbeing Support” measure which will include the assistance given in previous years for voluntary first-response organisations; and for mobility and cancer care supports and specialist sensory gardens which are designed to stimulate the senses and are of particular benefit to people with certain disabilities.
“One of the strategic objectives of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy is to strengthen rural economies and communities which is supported by the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund 2018 – 2027. CLÁR is an integral part of the Government’s rural development strategy and schools and community groups in Cork East Constituency have received €400,000 for variety of projects in the past three years since the programme re-opened out of a national total of €27 million.
“I would encourage community groups to submit applications under the programme before the closing date of Thursday, 25 April 2019”, concluded Minister Stanton.
