Killeen Welcomes Funding Boost For County Clare’s Road Infrastructure

Under the 2008 CLÁR Programme, a sum of €3m each is being provided by the Department of Transport and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for works to local secondary and tertiary roads in CLÁR areas.

Minister of State Killeen stated that the grant allocation to County Clare of EUR376,399.43, which is the seventh highest of all allocations received by local authorities in Ireland, would be of enormous benefit to local communities across the county.

According to the Clare T.D., "Clare County Council’s allocation was determined by the county’s percentage of the total population in CLÁR areas. The grant allocation will enable the local authority to fund local secondary and tertiary roads projects. The Council may also use the funds to replace, widen or strengthen bridges on local secondary and local tertiary roads, subject to the prior approval of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government."

"The funding announcement is concrete proof that the Government is determined to revitalise declining rural areas. Significant progress has been made in recent years in terms of improving national infrastructure. This scheme for co-funding non-national roads in CLÁR areas has been extremely successful so far, and I know that the works that have been carried out to date have been of enormous benefit to the local communities", Minister Killeen added.

2008 CLÁR Non-National Roads’ €6m Co-Fund

County Total Allocation per County
Carlow 50,000.00
Cavan 377,781.55
Clare 376,399.43
Cork 680,034.43
Donegal 539,261.67
Galway 524,643.75
Kerry 591,489.46
Kilkenny 67,016.45
Laois 75,650.62
Leitrim 209,748.56
Limerick 177,472.04
Longford 173,829.76
Louth 66,048.97
Mayo 685,766.15
Meath 50,000.00
Monaghan 243,951.90
Offaly 50,000.00
Roscommon 338,854.61
Sligo 221,374.60
Tipperary North 117,894.64
Tipperary South 147,350.01
Waterford 102,528.74
Westmeath 82,902.67
Wicklow 50,000.00

TOTAL 6,000,000.00

The CLÁR programme is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that suffered more than a 35% drop in population between 1926 and 2002. The programme covers parts of 22 counties and all of Co. Leitrim and benefits a population of nearly 727,000. CLÁR schemes cover a wide variety of developments such as village, housing and schools enhancement, electricity conversion, roads, water supply, sewerage disposal, health, coastal, sports and community projects.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry), is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304. Alternatively please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com