The 2023 CLÁR Programme is to provide a total of €6.2 million in funding for 152 schools, community and sports projects nationwide.

Funding of €174,934 has been specifically provided for four projects on offshore islands in counties Galway and Mayo.

The grants of up to €50,000 – under Measure 1 – will help fund projects such as astro-turf pitches, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks, nature trails, outdoor performance spaces and community cafés.

The successful projects on the islands include a reference library and a beachside seating area.

Projects on the mainland include the repair and refurbishment of Louisburgh Town Hall in Co Mayo, for which Louisburgh Community Futures received €49,500.

A spokesperson for the organisation commented: “We in Louisburgh Community Futures are delighted to receive this grant under the CLÁR grant. Much-needed work on our Town Hall can now commence. We look forward to working with the community to renovate and hopefully retrofit our hall in the coming months.”

– Dunkerrin Community Centre, Co Offaly – one of the successful projects announced today. Photo: Peter Ormond Facebook

In Co Offaly, Dunkerrin Community Centre received funding of €31,500.

Local Councillor Peter Ormond congratulated all involved with the project and said: “This funding is to develop an area which can be used for outdoor sports/games, outdoor functions, and for parking. Many thanks to the committee who worked along the staff of Birr area office in making the successful application.”

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said: “This funding is being provided under the 2023 CLÁR Programme and is all about ensuring that some of our most rural communities benefit from projects that will make them more vibrant places to live, work and visit.

“This funding is on top of the €4.7 million that I announced in December, which focused predominantly on supporting our GAA and other sports clubs.

Minister Humphreys continued: “I’m also pleased to announce today that we are providing specific funding for a number of projects on our offshore islands.

“Supporting our islands is a key priority of mine as Minister and this investment goes to the heart of what we are trying to achieve through our ten-year island strategy, ‘Our Living Islands’.”

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.

The funding under CLÁR is being provided as part of Our Rural Future, the Government’s strategic five-year plan to revitalise rural towns and villages nationwide.

The programme is divided into three measures:

Measure 1 supports the development of community and sports facilities, youth clubs, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks and more.

Measure 2 supports voluntary groups that provide free transport to people receiving cancer care and other treatment.

Measure 3 supports offshore island communities.

The full list of successful projects announced today under Measure 1 – Community and Measure 3 are available here