Deadline: 7-May-21
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD has announced the 2021 CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme to provide funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered significant levels of population decline.
The funding works in conjunction with local/Agency and other Departmental funding programmes and on the basis of locally identified priorities.
The measures being funded under the 2021 CLÁR programme are:
- Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
- Measure 2: Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities
- Measure 3:Community Wellbeing Measure:
- Community Gardens and Allotments
- Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
Funding Information
- In recognition of the importance of the programme to some of the most remote rural areas, funding for the CLÁR programme has been increased by 10% this year. This brings the allocation for the programme to €5.5 million for 2021.
Detailed Measure Outlines
- Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures- CLÁR 2021 will consider support for interventions that make the school/community facility environs healthier and safer for the children attending the schools, and for children and adults using the community facilities. The works can only take place to the environs of the school/community facility and not to any part of the exterior/interior of the school/community buildings.
- Eligible Applicants:
- Schools, Community Groups, Local Development Companies, Local Authorities.
- Selection of Projects- Projects proposed to the Department must be selected on the basis of:
- being located in a CLÁR area
- an application by a school, community organisation or LDC to the LA
- evidence that all necessary permissions are in place
- evidence where applicable that ownership/lease is in place
- full estimated costs including administration/professional fees (procurement not required at this point)
- evidence that match funding is in place, where relevant
- clear evidence of need
- relevance to the LECP/other plan.
- Rate of Aid-
- A minimum grant of €5,000 and maximum grants as listed in the table above will apply to this measure.
- The scheme will provide up to 90% of the cost or the maximum amount outlined in the table above, whichever is the lesser.
- The remaining 10% or balance of the cost should be provided through Local Authority/community/other resources with a minimum of 5% cash contribution from the school/community.
- Philanthropic contributions will be accepted as full or part of match funding costs.
- Eligible Applicants:
- Measure 2: Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities- CLÁR 2021 will consider supports for the enhancement of existing and/or the development of new accessible outdoor community recreation facilities. This Measure is being expanded in 2021 to include playgrounds, MUGAs and amenities for teenagers/young adults through facilities such as skateboard parks. Upgrades to existing playgrounds, MUGAs, skateboard parks are also eligible.
- Eligible Applicants:
- Community Groups, Schools, Local Development Companies, Local Authorities.
- Selection of Projects- The measure will be implemented via the LA’s. Projects proposed to the Department
by the LA’s must be selected on the basis of:- being located in a CLÁR area
- an application by a community organisation, school or LDC to the LA
- evidence that all necessary permissions are in place
- evidence, where applicable, that ownership/lease is in place
- full estimated costs including administration/professional fees (procurement not required at this point)
- evidence that match funding is in place where relevan
- being open to the public without appointment, and that the necessary insurance is in place
- projects that allow the lighting of fires e.g. BBQs have the express permission of the landowner on file
- clear evidence of need
- relevance to the LECP/other plans.
- Rate of Aid-
- A minimum grant of €5,000 and a maximum grant of €50,000 for projects will be available.
- The maximum grant payable will be 90% of the project cost or a maximum of €50,000, whichever is the lesser.
- The remaining 10% or balance of the cost should be provided through the local authority/community/other resources with a minimum of 5% cash contribution from the community.
- Philanthropic contributions will be accepted as full or part of match funding costs
- Eligible Applicants:
- Measure 3(a): Community Gardens and Allotments- This measure supports community gardens, allotments and sensory gardens. These facilities must be publicly accessible.
- Eligible Applicants:
- Community Groups, Local Development Companies, Local Authorities.
- Selection of Projects:- The measure will be implemented via the LA’s. Projects proposed to the Department by the LA’s must be selected on the basis of:
- being located in a CLÁR area
- an application by a community organisation or LDC to the LA
- evidence that all necessary permissions are in place
- evidence, where applicable, that ownership/lease is in place
- full estimated costs including administration/professional fees (procurement not required at this point)
- evidence that match funding is in place
- being open to the public without appointment, and that the necessary insurance is in place
- projects that allow the lighting of fires e.g. BBQs have the express permission of the landowner on file]clear evidence of need
- relevance to the LECP/other plans.
- Rate of Aid
- A minimum grant of €5,000 and a maximum grant of €50,000 for projects will be available.
- The maximum grant payable will be 90% of the project cost or a maximum of €50,000, whichever is the lesser.
- The remaining 10% or balance of the cost should be provided through local authority/community/other resources with a minimum of 5% cash contribution from the community.
- Philanthropic contributions will be accepted as full or part of match funding costs.
- Eligible Applicants:
Eligible Costs
- Applications should detail the eligible costs associated with the proposed project.
- Please note only items of a capital nature, integral to the project are eligible.
CLÁR Innovation Measure
- The new CLÁR Innovation Measure is targeted at piloting new ideas which address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas, including those associated with rural isolation, village decline, service accessibility, population change, social disadvantage and marginalisation in communities within the CLÁR areas.
- This Measure seeks to support fresh ideas and new ways of working that might not otherwise be identified or supported.
Assessment Criteria
- In assessing applications for recommendation to the Minister, a number of factors will be considered including the indicated order of priority; the range, mix, quality and impact of proposed projects; previous funding provided, and other relevant
considerations. - The quality and clarity of the completed application form, and the information provided in respect of the need and rationale for the project, are particularly important in selecting the successful projects.
- The number of projects approved in each County may be determined with reference to the size of the CLÁR area in the County relative to the overall size of the County.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/986b0-2021-clar-programme/