PRESS RELEASE: Minister Dara Calleary TD Announces Almost €390,000 for 10 Projects on Our Offshore Islands
Minister Dara Calleary TD announces almost €390,000 for 10 projects on our offshore islands
- Eight islands off the coast of Cork, Donegal, Galway and Mayo to benefit through the CLÁR Programme
- Support for community centres, waste management and recycling
- Enhancements to playgrounds and sports facilities, and support with island transport initiatives
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (20 March 2025) announced almost €390,000 in funding for Measure 3 of the 2024 CLÁR programme.
The funding will be used to develop and enhance community facilities and amenities across our off-shore Islands. In total, eight Islands off the coast of Cork, Donegal, Galway and Mayo will benefit under this funding allocation.
The funding will include improvements to sports facilities and community centres, and the enhancement of play spaces. Supports for waste management and island transport infrastructure is also being provided.
Some of the projects being supported today include
- Sherkin Island, Cork - Purchase of a hybrid bus to support the Island’s rural transport structure - €78,651.
- Oileán Gabhla, Donegal - Swim shelter at Gola Island Pier - €10,350
- Inis Mór, Galway - Repair and upgrade of playground equipment - €50,000
- Inishturk, Mayo - Community tractor and forklift to facilitate the transportation of goods and supplies - €50,000
- Bere Island, Cork – Purchase of a generator for the community centre
Announcing the successful projects, Minister Calleary said:
I am delighted announce these successful projects today under the CLÁR programme. Supporting our Island communities is a key priority for me and for this Government. I am very pleased to see these investments which will further enhance the quality of life for those living on eight of our off-shore islands.
Improvements in community facilities and transport initiatives together with waste management measures are all very welcome. There is also funding for the purchase of a generator in an island community centre which, as we have seen in recent weeks, will be an important resource in the future.
I want to commend the community and voluntary groups behind each of these projects for their continued commitment to improving the quality of life of everyone on our islands. Through schemes like the CLÁR programme, I want to use my term as Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support you as much as possible in creating sustainable and vibrant island communities.
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD said:
This announcement of funding today under the 2024 CLÁR programme’s Island measure will see eight of our off-shore islands benefitting through various projects from recreational infrastructure to transport services to assisting with waste management.
The CLÁR programme continues to support communities and I very much look forward to seeing these new projects delivered
Today’s announcement brings the total investment to almost €14 million in support of over 320 projects in CLÁR areas nationwide under the 2024 programme.
The full list of successful projects announced today under Measure 3 – Our Islands are available here on gov.ie.
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais)
The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
CLÁR is a targeted investment programme 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. Details of the designated areas can be found at here.
CLÁR works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. CLÁR 2024 was launched on the 12th April 2024 and included the following measures:
- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities
- Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care, Meals on Wheels and Community First Responders Transport
- Measure 3: Our Islands
The successful projects under measures 1 and 2 have already been announced with over €11.4 million approved for 264 projects under Measure 1 and a further €2.1 million approved for 49 vehicles under Measure 2.