7 September 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Senator Tim Lombard
Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard has announced that West Cork schools and community groups are to receive €114,800 under the Government’s CLÁR Programme, which funds small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered high levels of rural depopulation.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring has allocated funding of €3.8 million for in rural schools and communities across the country in this round of the CLÁR funding.
Senator Tim Lombard said: “The CLÁR funding announced today by the Government will support Safety Measures and Play Areas for schools and communities. The following West Cork projects will receive funding:
– Drimoleague Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Crossing: €45,000 for pedestrian crossing and footpath works
– Ahiohill National School: €19,800 for traffic calming measures and public lighting
– Bere Island Projects Group: €50,000 for playground works
“This funding is in addition to the €9,994 amount allocated to West Cork last month under the First Response Support and Mobility and Cancer Care Transport element of the CLÁR Programme.
“The CLÁR programme is a great scheme to help make our communities better places to live, work and raise families. Schools and community groups work alongside Cork County Council to put forward these initiatives and the CLÁR funding is then crucial to getting the projects over the line.”
Minister Ring added: “Last month I announced CLÁR funding of over €1.4 million in respect of 50 projects for First Response Support and Mobility and Cancer Care Transport. Today I am delighted to announce further funding under the 2019 CLÁR Programme of over €3.8 million which will benefit 104 communities in CLÁR areas. This is all being made possible through the Government’s investment under Project Ireland 2040.
“Since I reintroduced the CLÁR Programme in 2016, it has provided funding to over 1,300 projects throughout the country under various measures. The value of this support for disadvantaged rural communities is clear to see from the level of applications under the 2019 CLÁR programme.”
