Mayor of the County of Cork Welcomes Launch of CLÁR 2025 Programme
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll has welcomed the announcement by Minister Dara Calleary at the Department of Rural and Community Development of the €11 million CLÁR 2025 fund. The scheme supports small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of population decline. CLÁR also promotes sustainable development and aims to attract people to live and work in the areas it covers.
The CLÁR 2025 Programme provides funding under the following measures:
• Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities.
• Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport.
• Measure 3: “Our Living Islands”
Cork County Council is calling for applications by local community groups under Measure 1 ‘Developing Community Facilities & Amenities’. A minimum grant of €5,000 and maximum grant of €65,000 will apply to this measure. The 2025 scheme also allows for two applications seeking grant funding of up to €100,000 and one additional application for funding of between €5,000 and €65,000 for a Gaeltacht area. Measures 2 and 3 will be administered directly by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Encouraging groups to put forward an application, Mayor Carroll said,
Mayor
The CLÁR programme provides communities with an excellent opportunity to develop or enhance recreational facilities in their area. Cork County Council was very successful last year, with all 15 applications put forward under CLÁR Measure 1 approved for funding by the Department of Rural and Community Development. From mobile flood lights at Bantry Sports Hub to a refurbishment playground in Union Hall, a woodland walk in Kilcorney and a four Lane Sprint Running Track in Conna, a range of very worthwhile projects were made possible with the fund in 2024. I urge community groups to bring their ideas forward to their local Municipal District office.
The scheme will provide up to 90% of the cost. The remaining 10% or balance of the cost must be provided in cash through local authority/community or other resources. Philanthropic contributions will be accepted as full or part of match funding costs. This funding must be in place at the time of application.
Applicants must submit their project applications to their local Municipal District Office by Friday the 9th of May 2025. Information on the scheme, application forms and details of your local Municipal District Office are available by clicking the link below.