Community organisations across Galway city and county are being urged apply for the new €5 million CLAR Programme which provides funding for small scale capital projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
In Galway the CLAR designated areas include North West and South West Connemara, the Aran Islands, Inisbofin, and large parts of North Galway and South Galway. The programme includes three measures including support for school and community measures, support for play areas, such as playgrounds, and support for voluntary first response organisations.
Each county council can apply for a maximum of 15 projects either directly or by facilitating local groups. Community groups need to make an application before the closing date of Monday April 30. Application forms for Measures 1 and 2 can be obtained from Galway County Council while Measure 3 applications – First Response Support – should be made directly to the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Seán Kyne, Minister for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development and Fine Gael Galway West TD is encouraging communities to avail of the funding.
“Under last year’s CLAR Programme, rural communities in Galway benefitted from an allocation of almost €520,000," he said. "This included €226,700 under Measure 1 which facilitated a range of safety works, such as footpaths and lighting, in the county, and a further €287,523 for Measure 2 works which included the new playgrounds and refurbishment of existing ones."
