Media Release

Monday, 15^th August 2022

Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces €7.4 million for 175 community projects nationwide

• Sports Clubs, Schools, Community Groups to receive grants of up to €50,000
• Successful projects include Astro-Turfs, Sensory Gardens, Handball Alleys, Outdoor Cinemas, Hurling Walls, Basketball Courts, Walkways, Public Toilets, Community Gyms, Youth Hubs, Community Cafés and much more
• Record Number of Projects to receive funding as part of ‘Our Rural Future’

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Monday 15^th August) announced almost €7.4 million in funding to support 175 community projects nationwide.

Sports Clubs, Schools and Community Groups will receive grants of up to €50,000 to develop a wide and diverse range of community facilities in rural areas with successful projects including Outdoor Cinemas, Astro-Turfs, Sensory Gardens, Hurling Walls, Basketball Courts, Walkways, Public Toilets, Community Gyms, Renovations to old Handball Alleys and much more.

The funding is being provided as part of ‘Our Rural Future’, the Government’s ambitious policy for rural development.

Announcing the successful projects, Minister Humphreys said:

“Our Rural Future is all about a ground-up approach to rural development. Every community is different and the people who know best what their town, village or parish needs are the people who live there.

“It was for that very reason that I broadened the scope of the CLÁR Programme this year to allow for a much wider range of eligible projects. The response from communities across the country has been overwhelming and that is evidenced by the diverse range and variety of successful projects under this year’s scheme.

“I am pleased to award funding to a record number of applications this year. This funding will supports Sports Clubs, Schools, local Development Associations and other community groups in developing community facilities which will benefit people of all ages in our rural communities.

“The recent census results show that there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before. This hugely positive. The funding I am announcing today will support communities to develop great facilities for families to enjoy.

“Astro-Turfs, Sensory Gardens, Handball Alleys, Outdoor Cinemas, Hurling Walls, Basketball Courts, Walkways, Public Toilets, Community Gyms, Youth Hubs, Community Cafés…these are just a few examples of the wide range of projects we are supporting today.

“I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants and I wish them the best of luck in carrying out these works which will make our rural communities even more attractive places to live, work and raise a family.”

“In view of the hugely positive response from communities, I am exploring the possibility of providing further funding for a second tranche of projects under CLÁR and I hope to make an announcement on this in the near future.”

Examples of some of the successful projects receiving funding today include:

• Co Clare – Kilmaley Meitheal – Kilmaley Community  Walkway – €50,000
• Co Cork – Millstreet Men’s Shed – Renovations to Millstreet Old Fire Station to facilitate Millstreet Men’s Shed – €38,700
• Co Donegal – Gairdin na gCeadfai – Na Croisbhealai – A sensory garden with wheelchair access, outdoor tea & coffee making facilities, biogas stove fuelled by an anaerobic digestion – €50,000
• Co Galway – Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán Teo – Development of a community cinema and drop in youth hub facility to include library, coffee dock & game area – €41,827
• Co Kerry – Beal Beach Asdee Community Development Association – Upgrade of the existing beach access providing a new pathway with steps and a pedestrian handrail to provide safe access onto the scenic Beale Strand Beach – €50,000
• Co Kilkenny – Muckalee Community Centre – Fit out of capital works for community centre kitchen, café and shop – €26,932
• Co Leitrim – Drumkeeran GAA Club – Construction of a walkway around the existing GAA facilities and surrounding land to create a new looped walking trail- €46,350
• Co Laois – Camross Community Association – Development of a riverside amphitheatre – €14,780
• Co Louth – Cooley Complex CLG – Provision of outdoor handball alley at Cooley Complex in Carlingford €19,926
• Co Roscommon – Cootehall Community Development Company – Erect a covered Gazebo facility in the Cootehall Riverside Park – €34,650
• Co Waterford – Clashmore & Kinsalebeg Community Council – Install a basketball court in land owned by Clashmore TidyTowns to provide a place for young people to meet – €45,000
• Co Meath – Moylagh GAA Club – Lighting and associated works for community walking track – €50,000
• Co Mayo – Down Syndrome Ireland West Regional Centre – Fully accessible playground – €50,000

The full list of successful Measure 1 projects are available here .

ENDS

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-7736843 / 087-1734633

[email protected]

Note to Photo Desks:

Photo Caption: Minister Humphreys announces €7.4 million for 175 community projects under CLÁR Measure 1.

Notes to Editors:

The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and forms part of the Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future.

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. Details of the designated areas can be found here.

CLÁR funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. CLÁR 2022 was announced in February 2022 with applications invited under 3 Measures:

Measure 1:    Developing Community Facilities & Amenities

Measure 2:    Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport

Measure 3:    ‘Our Islands’

Details of the successful projects are appended and can also be found at the following here

Today’s announcement relates to Measure 1 of the Programme. Measures 2 and 3 of the Programme were announced earlier in the year.

Tranche 1 of Approved Projects under CLÁR Measure 1 2022 (Galway)