CLÁR funding sought for Delvin, Clonmellon and Collinstown

Councillors in the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District have backed a call to ask the minister for rural and community development to extend the CLÁR programme to a number of smaller towns and villages currently outside the scheme.

At the July meeting, Cllr David Jones proposed that the council write to Minister Dara Calleary seeking the inclusion of communities such as Delvin, Clonmellon and Collinstown. The District Office confirmed that, subject to members’ agreement, a letter will issue to the minister.

Cllr Jones welcomed the recent expansion of CLÁR to include areas such as Castlepollard, Ballynacargy and the far side of Raharney Bridge, but argued that many other rural communities are missing out on important funding opportunities.

He said that through his experience preparing funding applications, he had seen first-hand the gaps that exist for smaller towns and villages and described CLÁR as a scheme that can often provide the crucial funding bridge where other supports are unavailable.

“Delvin, Clonmellon, Collinstown, Rathwire, Killucan and all the areas in between could benefit hugely,” he said.

Cllr Denis Leonard supported the proposal and questioned the logic behind some of the current CLÁR boundaries. He said many rural communities are excluded by only a short distance and argued that a lack of access to community development funding is contributing to the decline of local amenities, schools, sports clubs and village services. “The biggest threat we have in this county right now is the death of a lot of our rural towns and villages,” he warned.

The mayor, Cllr Niall Gaffney, also backed the motion and suggested the council seek greater flexibility in how CLÁR funding can be used.

He noted that other funding schemes allow projects to benefit surrounding areas, while CLÁR is more restrictive, and said a joint approach involving neighbouring communities could make applications more effective.

District Manager Mary Goldsberry confirmed that a letter would be sent to the minister and that the council would seek clarification on how the CLÁR map was originally determined.

Following further discussion, councillors agreed that the letter should also include an invitation for Minister Calleary and departmental officials to meet members of the local authority to discuss the CLÁR boundaries and wider rural funding supports, including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Cllr Jones said a face-to-face meeting would allow local representatives to demonstrate the impact that the current map is having on communities across rural east Westmeath.