€11 million in funding announced for rural community projects
The expanded CLÁR Programme will support sports, mobility aids, and more in rural Leitrim communities.
The CLÁR programme has launched an expanded 2025 programme, which will provide €11 million in funding for community facilities across rural areas, including Leitrim.
The programme, which funded 14 projects in Leitrim to the tune of €615,233, is aimed at supporting a variety of projects in rural communities such as sports facilities, playgrounds, youth clubs, and walking tracks.
The funding, which was announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, on Friday, will additionally fund initiatives for mobility aids, cancer care, meals on wheels transport, and community first responders.
Deputy Frank Feighan highlighted the importance of the CLÁR Programme in supporting rural communities, stating that it has made a significant difference in Leitrim over the years. "This funding will help make rural areas like ours more resilient and attractive for both residents and visitors," he said.
For 2025, the programme includes an increase in the maximum funding per project, with local authorities now able to apply for up to €100,000 for two larger-scale initiatives.
Feighan encouraged community groups in Leitrim to apply for funding, noting that the initiative will particularly benefit some of the county’s most rural areas.