€12.3 million for 206 projects under the under the 2025 CLÁR programme.
- Investment in sports clubs and community facilities nationwide
- Funding for playgrounds, astro-turf pitches, walking tracks, spectator stands and upgrades of community centres
- Specific funding for Gaeltacht areas and our islands
The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.
The scheme was re-opened in 2016 to support the development of remote rural areas through small-scale capital projects involving collaboration between local authorities (LAs) and communities, as well as for other community-based organisations.
Details of the 206 projects announced today are available here. The funding announced today is in respect of Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities & Measure 3: Our Living Islands. Funding under Measure 2 was announced earlier in the year.
Areas targeted under the CLÁR Programme are parts of counties: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and all of County Leitrim.
A national map of CLÁR areas, together with individual county maps, is available; here
The measures being funded under the 2025 CLÁR programme are:
- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (applications via local authorities)
- Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care, Community First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport (applications direct to DRCD)
- Measure 3: ‘Our Living Islands’ (applications direct to DRCD)
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
The expanded Department is now known as the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD leads the Department and is supported by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD.