Minister for Disabilities and Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East, Anne Rabbitte, today (Thursday, September 2nd) confirmed the provision of €96,930 to fund two vehicles for community-based organisations providing vital services in East Galway.

Under the 2021 CLÁR programme, the funding will support the purchase of a vehicle for East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support (€42,930) and the purchase of a bus with adaptions for Ability West in Mountbellew (€54,000). The vehicles will be used to assist people who are wheelchair-bound or have other mobility issues.

Minister Rabbitte commented:

This funding will ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our communities in East Galway can access vital supports or attend medical appointments. I want to commend the invaluable work both the East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support and Ability West organisations do as they are crucial supports for people in East Galway and this is much deserved funding for them.

For families across East Galway, the provision of such transport services by the East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support and Ability West are vital for families to continue day to day and ensure access to the services they need. This funding enables these organisations to have the best transport at their disposal to support their service users.

These organisations are two of just 14 projects awarded funding under this CLAR measure and I thank Minister Heather Humphreys and her Department of Rural and Community Development for seeing the merit of these projects and the services offered by both groups

Once again, this also reflects a commitment in the Government’s rural development policy, ‘Our Rural Future’, to improve transport and accessibility in Rural Ireland,” concluded Minister Rabbitte.

The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and forms part of the Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future.

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas 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 here.

CLÁR funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. Originally launched in 2001 but closed for applications in 2009, the CLÁR Programme was reintroduced in 2016. CLÁR 2021 was announced in March 2021 with applications invited under 4 Measures:

Measure 1:    Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures

Measure 2:    Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities

Measure 3:    Community Wellbeing Support

(a)  Community Gardens and Allotments

(b)  Mobility and Cancer Care Transport

 CLÁR Innovation Measure: Funding for innovative or pilot projects that address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas.

County Organisation Project Details Amount of CLÁR  funding approved
CLARE Order of Malta Clare Purchase of Vehicle €50,000.00
CORK Irish Wheelchair Association Mallow Vehicle with adaption €35,663.40
GALWAY East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support Purchase of Vehicle €42,930.00
GALWAY Ability West Mountbellew Bus with adaption €54,000.00
KERRY Cahirciveen Social Services Vehicle with adaption €44,100.00
KERRY Ard Chúram Day Care Centre CLG Bus with adaption €73,800.00
KERRY Irish Wheelchair Association Kerry Bus with adaption €55,638.00
LONGFORD Irish Wheelchair Association Bus with adaption €55,654.20
MEATH Moylagh JFK  50 Mile Challenge Purchase of Vehicle €50,000.00
MEATH Irish Wheelchair Association Purchase of Vehicle €55,654.00
OFFALY Irish Wheelchair Association Vehicle with adaption €55,654.00
ROSCOMMON Brothers of Charity-Mid Roscommon Purchase of Wheelchair Accessible Bus €63,895.00
SLIGO Order of Malta Purchase of Vehicle €50,000.00
WATERFORD Saint Christophers Community Ambulance Purchase of Ambulance €60,256.80
TOTAL     €747,245.40