Almost €9 million in fresh funding has been allocated to community and sports facilities nationwide under the 2024 CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of population decline.
The programme is divided into three measures, which cover the different initiatives supported by the scheme.
Under Measure 1 of the 2024 initiative, grants from €5,000 to €50,000 are being provided to support the development of community and sports facilities, youth clubs, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks and much more. Closing date is 19th June 2024
Measure 2 supports voluntary groups that provide free transport to people receiving cancer care and other treatment as well as Community First Response Support and Search and Rescue organisations. This year organisations providing a meals on wheels service are eligible to apply.
The measure comes with maximum grants of €50,000 for a car and €100,000 for a bus. Closing date is 5th June 2024
Measure 3 is designed to support offshore island communities, with maximum grants of €120,000 available for community transport projects and up to €50,000 available for amenities projects. Closing date is 19th June.
Measure 1 is administered by Local Authorities in consultation with local communities and applications will only be accepted directly from Local Authorities. Please email an expression of interest to pcarmody@wicklowcoco.ie and once the project is deemed eligible an application form will be provided for completion. Closing date for the submission of expressions of interest is 15th May 2024.
Please note:- Measure 2 and Measure 3 are administered directly by the Department of Rural and Community Development and applications are being accepted via email to CLAR@drcd.gov.ie
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 map of the eligible Wicklow CLÁR areas is available below, along with the scheme guidelines.