The reintroduction of CLÁR funding was flagged in the programme for Government. On recent announcements relating to CLÁR funding, Cork County Council was given an understanding by the Department of Rural and Community Development that it would have to prioritise 15 projects. It submitted 15 projects, having consulted communities and prioritised the funding needed in various parts of the county. Only three projects in the entire local authority area were funded, with Cork county receiving €115,000 or 3% of the total allocation of €3.8 million. There was negotiation between the Department and the local authority on projects in Lyre, Millstreet and Knocknagree, as well as on a playground for Kanturk. Those behind the projects were assured by the Department that funding would be allocated if the projects were prioritised by the local authority. Why has the funding evaporated? Are there plans to make additional funding available for the Cork County Council area?

I will check the specific figures for Cork county. Generally, there has been pressure on CLÁR agencies or development companies to get their projects in place and the funding spent. We are following that up. If there is a specific problem in Cork, we will deal with it.