Cash grants for schools, playgrounds and community wellbeing

In Blog, Disability, Families, Health, Infrastructure, Older People, Young People by Denis Naughten

I’m encouraging local community groups to work with both Roscommon & Galway County Council’s on proposals for grants that support projects in rural areas.

CLÁR programme has just been launched and it provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have suffered significant levels of population decline.

The kind of projects being funded under the 2019 CLÁR programme include support for schools/community safety, play areas (including multi-use games areas), community wellbeing supports including first response support, mobility and cancer care transport and sensory gardens.

The deadline for applications is April 25, 2019.

This year’s round of funding will see the creation of a ‘Community Wellbeing Support’ measure which will encompass the assistance given in previous years for voluntary first-response organisation, and for mobility and cancer care supports.

This year’s CLÁR programme will, for the first time, provide funding for the development of specialist sensory gardens and complementary play equipment. These gardens are designed to stimulate the senses and are of particular benefit to people with certain disabilities.

By supporting these investments CLÁR is helping to improve the quality of life in rural communities for families with young children.

The measures announced today, taken together, will make living in rural areas safer and even more attractive for people of all ages.

Full details of the CLÁR programme is being issued to the County Councils

 

Denis Naughten TD

 

 

Eligibility details of the scheme & maps:

Support for Schools Community Safety Measures_CLÁR 2019

Play Areas & MUGAs_CLÁR 2019

Community Wellbeing Support_CLÁR 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter from Minister Ring on the Clar Grant Scheme:

 

I am announcing  details of the CLÁR programme for 2019. CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd- Riachtanais) provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered significant levels of population decline. The programme is part of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration Programme.

CLÁR is a very important programme for communities in rural Ireland. The initiatives which are funded by my Department continue to make a significant impact in many rural areas. I am therefore delighted to announce the invitation to Local Authorities and other groups to submit proposals to my Department for consideration.

I am making funding available again this year for safety measures near schools and other community facilities, and for play areas (including Multi-Use Games Areas).  These measures, which I have funded under previous rounds of the CLÁR programme, have made a significant difference to many rural communities I have visited over the last two years.

 2019 will also see the creation of a “Community Wellbeing Support” measure which will encompass the assistance given in previous years for voluntary first-response organisations, and for mobility and cancer care supports.  The measure will also provide funding for the development of specialist sensory gardens and complementary play equipment in CLÁR areas.

These measures, taken together, will make living in rural areas safer and even more attractive for people of all ages. Rural communities themselves will be key partners in the provision of these facilities, but I am delighted that the CLÁR programme will enable these groups to put new and enhanced facilities in place in their communities.

One of the strategic objectives of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy is to strengthen rural economies and communities.  The CLÁR programme is a key enabler in supporting rural communities and is an important part of the Government’s integrated strategy for rural development. That strategy is also being supported through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which will provide an additional €1 billion for rural development through my Department up to 2027.

The CLÁR programme has supported 1,270 projects since I re-opened the scheme in 2016, with funding of almost €27 million.

 

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, Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and all of County Leitrim. A map of CLÁR areas is attached.

 

Full details of the CLÁR programme will be issued to the Local Authorities and other relevant organisations in the coming days.

I attach details of schemes approved for funding under this programme in 2017 and 2018. Details of 2016 will follow.

 

Proposed Measures for 2019 are:

Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety (as per 2018)
Measure 2: Play Areas (including MUGAs) (as per 2018)
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (new in 2019)

Comprising:     Measure 3a: First Response Support

Measure 3b: Mobility and Cancer Care Transport

Measure 3c: Sensory Gardens

 

Detailed measure outlines are provided in the appendices.

 

In the main, it is proposed that measures 1 & 2 for 2019 will be run in the same way as in 2018, with a maximum of 15 applications to be submitted by the Local Authority. Confirmation that play areas will be open to the public will be a requirement of the programme again in 2019. Applications under measure 1 may include a number of elements at a single location (school or community facility) up to the maximum funding limit outlined in the detailed description.

 

It is proposed that measure 3 will encompass measures 3 & 4 from 2018 (First Response Support Measure, and Mobility and Cancer Care Transport Measure), and will also allow applications for specialist sensory gardens with play equipment to be built in CLÁR areas.

 

Measure Changes

Measures 1 and 2: There are no proposed changes. Local Authorities will be permitted to submit a maximum of 15 applications between the two measures, in order of priority. Confirmation that play areas will be open to the public will be a requirement of the programme once again in 2019.

 

Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports aims to support projects of a capital nature which increase the health and wellbeing of communities living in CLÁR areas.

 

Measure 3a: First Response Support: The criteria, etc. will remain the same as those in place under the First Response Support Measure in 2018.

 

Measure 3b: Mobility and Cancer Care Transport: The 2018 Mobility and Cancer Care Transport criteria will remain the same.

 

Measure 3c: Sensory Gardens: Criteria will allow for applications for specialist sensory gardens and play equipment. The maximum level of funding for sensory garden projects will be limited to €60,000, with a requirement for match funding of at least 10% of the total cost of the project. A Local Authority or other eligible applicant may bundle a sensory garden project with a playground or MUGA project. Such projects must be located in a CLÁR area.

 

Proposed Applicants/Project Administration/Delivery Bodies

Local Authorities will be the main applicants under Measures 1 and 2 in partnership with local schools and community groups, and Local Development Companies where desired, in line with the 2018 criteria. Projects will be administered by the Local Authority and delivered by the Local Authority or Local Development Company, as agreed.

 

Measure 3a: In respect of the Measure 3a (First Response Support), applicants will be eligible local groups, however, where there are several separate applicants associated with the same national or regional organisation, it will be a requirement that the applications are all submitted by the parent organisation with an indication of that organisation’s order of priority. A maximum of €200,000 per national / regional organisation will apply. This is in line with the measure requirements in 2018.

 

Measure 3b: There is no change proposed to the provisions for the existing measure.

 

Measure 3c, Local Authorities will be the main applicants, in partnership with Local Development Companies and/or facilities for people with disabilities where desired. Facility must be open to the public.

 

 

Decision Making Processes

In keeping with Government policy regarding community involvement in local decision making, all applications to be submitted to the Department by Local Authorities for consideration must indicate that they are in line with the LECP in order to be considered for approval. The final decision regarding the projects to be funded will remain with the Department in the normal way.

 

Local Authorities will be required to certify compliance with all necessary conditions such as planning, other permissions, match funding etc. in order to streamline the assessment and decision making process.

 

Grant Payment arrangements

Payment of 100% will be made after certification by the LA/LDC regarding completion of a project.

 

Based on experience in 2018, community groups might require additional phased payments to be made, as they may not be in a position to carry the cost of the larger projects. This has worked well in the past and can be facilitated.

 

Eligible costs

In line with the 2018 programme:

  • Applications must detail all costs associated with the proposed project.
  • Only items of a capital nature, integral to the project may be included.
  • Administration costs, up to a maximum of 10% of the overall project cost (down from 12.5% last year) where the project is to be delivered by the LA/LDC, i.e. in respect of Measures 1, 2 and 3c.

 

Ineligible costs

On-going running costs such as wages/salaries, heating etc. or consumables.

The purchase of land or buildings.

 

Please find attached:

  • Appendix 1_Support for SchoolsCommunity Safety Measures_CLÁR 2019
  • Appendix 2_Play Areas & MUGAs_CLÁR 2019
  • Appendix 3_Community Wellbeing Support_CLÁR 2019
  • Map of CLÁR areas
  • Copy of CLÁR 2017 allocations by measure by county
  • Copy of CLÁR 2018 allocations by measure by county

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Michael Ring T.D.’s Office

Minister for Rural and Community Development