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11 Mar 2026

Village in Louth to benefit as CLÁR programme expands

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in communities that have experienced significant levels of depopulation

Village in Louth to benefit as CLÁR programme expands

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects

Reporter:

Donard McCabe

11 Mar 2026 1:30 PM

News that Castlebellingham has been included in the expansion of areas eligible for the CLÁR funding programme, with €12 million available for projects under CLÁR 2026, has been welcomed by Louth TDs, Erin McGreehan and Paula Butterly.

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in communities that have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
Following a comprehensive review carried out by the All‑Island Research Observatory at Maynooth University, 110 new areas across 20 counties have now been designated as eligible for CLÁR support. The review used the Pobal HP Deprivation Index and the CSO Urban and Rural Life in Ireland classification to identify communities that are highly rural, remote, and experiencing socio‑economic disadvantage.
This expansion brings the total number of people eligible for CLÁR funding to over one million. Under the initiative, funding will be provided across three measures:
  • Measure 1 - Development of community facilities and amenities including sports facilities, youth clubs, teenage spaces, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks and much more. There are new items eligible for support this year under Measure 1, including support for traffic safety measures with a particular link to community facilities or events, and for initiatives aimed at reducing light pollution in rural communities.
  • Measure 2 - Support for vehicles for community transport used to transport cancer patients or persons with reduced mobility, for community first responders and for meals on wheels organisations. 
  • Measure 3 - Tailored funding for our offshore island communities under the specific ‘Our Living Islands’ measure.

Read also: She’s Next 2026 offers big opportunity to women entrepreneurs in Louth

Speaking following the announcement on Tuesday, Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan said: “The CLÁR programme provides vital support to rural communities across the country, delivering essential funding for projects that help bring communities together.
“The inclusion of Castlebellingham among the locations now eligible for funding means more communities in Louth can apply for support for local projects and community amenities. This will help ensure these communities have access to the same infrastructure and facilities that are available in urban areas.
“The wide range of projects that can be supported under CLÁR continues to be one of the programme’s key strengths, and today’s announcement will be welcome news for many rural communities."
Also welcoming the news Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly said: “The CLÁR programme has proven its value to rural communities all across the country over the years, and I know that community groups will continue to make great use of this funding again this year.
"The range of projects that can be funded under CLÁR continues to be one of its strengths, and today’s announcement will be welcome news in many rural communities.”

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