CLÁR 2023: €7.85 million funding for community and sports facilities
- Specific measures also target cancer care transport, community first responders and off-shore islands
Almost €8 million in fresh funding has been allocated to community and sports facilities nationwide under the 2023 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 2023 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.
For the first time, the programme offers funding to carry out improvements to spectator stands at local GAA and sports clubs.
Measure 2 supports voluntary groups that provide free transport to people receiving cancer care and other treatment. Community First Response Support and Search and Rescue organisations are also eligible to apply.
The measure comes with maximum grants of €50,000 for a car and €100,000 for a bus.
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.
| Measure | Purpose | Application due date | Where to apply | Rate of Aid |
| Measure 1 | Community Facilities and Amenities | 6 June 2023 | Local authority | €5,000 – €50,000 |
| Measure 2 | Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport | 12 May 2023 | Department | Max. €100,000 |
| Measure 3 | ‘Our Islands’ | 6 June 2023 | Department | Max. €120,000 |
Measure 1 is administered by Local Authorities in consultation with local communities and applications will only be accepted directly from Local Authorities.
Measure 2 and Measure 3 are administered directly by the Department of Rural and Community Development and applications are being accepted via email to [email protected] .
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.
Full details can be found available on our Rural Funding page .
Scheme Outlines and Application Forms for the three measures can be found below. For further queries please contact [email protected] .
