Media Release
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Minister Calleary announces expansion of areas eligible for CLÁR funding and launches CLÁR 2026 programme
- 110 additional areas added across 20 counties
- For the first time, over 1 million people are now eligible for support in CLÁR areas
- €12 million available for projects under CLÁR 2026
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Tuesday, 10 March 2026) announced an expansion of the CLÁR programme. This follows a commitment given in the Programme for Government to carry out a comprehensive review of the eligibility criteria of CLÁR with a view to expanding the programme to rural areas which were previously ineligible.
That review was completed by the All-Island Research Observatory in Maynooth University. The Pobal HP Deprivation Index and the CSO Urban and Rural Life in Ireland classification were used to identify areas classified as highly rural and remote while also experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.
The review has resulted in the addition of new Electoral Divisions (EDs) in 20 counties, including 10 or more new EDs in Donegal, Limerick, Tipperary and, for the first time, Wexford. One Electoral Division (ED) was also added in Kildare for the first time.
Announcing the details of the expansion today, Minister Calleary said:
“I am pleased to announce the 110 new Electoral Divisions with a population of nearly 150,000 people that are now designated as CLÁR areas. For the first time in its history, there will be over 1 million people living in parts of Ireland that are eligible to apply for this important funding”.
A copy of the report completed on the expansion of CLÁR areas together with updated county maps is available here.
The Minister also announced that the 2026 CLÁR programme, with an increased budget of €12 million, is now open for applications.
Minister of State Buttimer added:
“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.”
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.
Speaking about the opening Minister Calleary said:
“I was delighted to secure an increase in funding last year’s Budget which now brings the allocation for 2026 to €12 million. The CLÁR programme continues to assist in building resilient and vibrant communities. To further support Gaeltacht areas, local authorities will be permitted to submit two extra applications this year in respect of a community facility in a Gaeltacht area under Measure 1.
“I very much look forward to announcing the successful projects across all measures later in the year, including in respect of the new areas added to the scheme this year.”
Minister Calleary concluded:
“Community groups should contact their local authority in respect of applications for community facilities under measure 1.
“Organisations can apply directly to my Department for projects under Measure 2 & 3. My officials will be providing capacity building seminars for community organisations interested in applying for Measure 2 and separately for Measure 3 on Wednesday March 25th. Interested organisations can register their interest at .”
Full details of the scheme and measures to be funded are available on the Department’s website.
Preasráiteas: CLÁR 2026 seolta ag an Aire Calleary
Preasráiteas
Dé Máirt, 10 Márta 2026
Méadú ar na ceantair atá incháilithe do Mhaoiniú CLÁR fógartha agus CLÁR 2026 seolta ag an Aire Calleary
- Cuireadh 110 ceantar eile leis an chlár ar fud 20 contae
- Den chéad uair, tá breis is milliún duine incháilithe anois i gcomhair tacaíochta i gceantair CLÁR
- €12 milliún ar fáil do thionscadail faoi CLÁR 2026
D’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, inniu (Dé Máirt, 10ú Márta) go bhfuil clár CLÁR á leathnú. Tá sé seo mar thoradh ar ghealltanas a tugadh sa Chlár Rialtais chun athbhreithniú cuimsitheach a dhéanamh ar chritéir incháilitheachta CLÁR ar mhaithe leis an chlár a leathnú go ceantair thuaithe nach raibh incháilithe roimhe seo.
Tugadh an t-athbhreithniú sin i gcrích san Ionad Breathnaithe um Thaighde Uile-Éireann in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Baineadh úsáid as Innéacs Díothachta Pobal HP agus aicmiú Saol Uirbeach agus Saol Tuaithe in Éirinn de chuid na Príomh-Oifige Staidrimh (POS), chun ceantair a aithint atá go mór faoin tuath agus iargúlta, agus a bhfuil an aicme sin acu, agus atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste socheacnamaíoch.
Mar thoradh ar an athbhreithniú sin, tá Toghranna (TRanna) nua in 20 contae curtha san áireamh, ar a n-áirítear níos mó ná 10 gcinn nua i nDún na nGall, Luimneach, Tiobraid Árann agus, den chéad uair, Loch Garman. Cuireadh Toghroinn amháin i gCill Dara san áireamh den chéad uair freisin.
Agus sonraí faoin mhéadú á bhfógairt aige inniu, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Táim an-sásta na 110 dToghroinn nua a fhógairt, ina bhfuil daonra de bheagnach 150,000 duine, atá rangaithe anois mar cheantair CLÁR. Den chéad uair riamh i stair an chláir, beidh breis is milliún duine ina gcónaí in áiteanna in Éirinn atá incháilithe chun cur isteach ar an maoiniú tábhachtach seo.”
Tá cóip den tuarascáil a rinneadh ar shíneadh cheantair CLÁR, in éineacht le léarscáileanna nua de na contaetha, ar fáil anseo.
D’fhógair an tAire freisin go bhfuil clár CLÁR 2026, le buiséad leathnaithe de €12 milliún, ar oscailt anois i gcomhair iarratas.
Dúirt an tAire Stáit Buttimer:
“Tá luach CLÁR cruthaithe do phobail thuaithe ar fud na tíre le blianta anuas, agus tá a fhios agam go leanfaidh grúpaí pobail ag baint úsáid iontach as an maoiniú seo arís i mbliana. Tá an raon tionscadal is féidir a mhaoiniú faoi CLÁR fós ar cheann dá láidreachtaí, agus cuirfear fáilte roimh fhógra an lae inniu i go leor pobal tuaithe.”
Faoin tionscnamh, beidh maoiniú á thabhairt thar thrí bheart:
Beart 1
Forbairt áiseanna agus saoráidí pobail, lena n-áirítear áiseanna spóirt, clubanna óige, spásanna do dhéagóirí, clóis súgartha, gairdíní céadfaí, conairí siúil agus go leor eile nach iad. Tá nithe nua ann i mbliana atá incháilithe i gcomhair tacaíochta faoi Bheart 1, lena n-áirítear tacaíocht do bhearta sábháilteachta tráchta ag a bhfuil nasc ar leith le háiseanna nó imeachtaí pobail, agus tacaíocht do thionscnaimh a bhfuil mar aidhm leo truailliú solais a laghdú i bpobail tuaithe.
Beart 2
Tacaíocht d’fheithiclí iompair pobail atá á n-úsáid chun othair a bhfuil ailse orthu nó daoine beagluaineachta a iompar, feithiclí d’fhreagróirí garchabhrach pobail agus feithiclí d’eagraíochtaí béilí ar rothaí.
Beart 3
Maoiniú saincheaptha dár bpobail ar oileáin amach ón chósta, faoi bheart sonrach ‘Ár nOileáin Bheo’.
Ag labhairt faoin oscailt, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Ba chúis áthais dom méadú maoinithe a fháil i mBuiséad na bliana seo caite, a fhágann gurb ionann an leithdháileadh do 2026 agus €12 milliún. Leanann clár CLÁR de bheith ag tacú le pobail athléimneacha bhríomhara a chothú. Chun tuilleadh tacaíochta a thabhairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta, beidh cead ag údaráis áitiúla dhá iarratas bhreise a chur isteach i mbliana maidir le háis phobail i gceantar Gaeltachta faoi Bheart 1.
“Táim ag súil go mór le fógairt a dhéanamh níos déanaí i mbliana faoi na tionscadail a éireoidh leo faoi na bearta ar fad, leis na ceantair nua a cuireadh leis an scéim i mbliana san áireamh.”
Ar deireadh, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Ba cheart do ghrúpaí pobail teagmháil a dhéanamh lena n-údarás áitiúil maidir le hiarratais d’áiseanna pobail faoi Bheart 1.
“Is féidir le heagraíochtaí iarratas a dhéanamh le mo Roinn go díreach i gcomhair tionscadail faoi Bhearta 2 & 3. Beidh m’oifigigh ag reáchtáil seimineáir um chothú inniúlachta d’eagraíochtaí pobail ar spéis leo cur isteach ar Bheart 2, agus ceann eile do Bheart 3 ar Dé Céadaoin, Márta 25ú. Is féidir le heagraíochtaí a spéis a chur in iúl ag .”
Tá na sonraí ar fad faoin scéim agus faoi na bearta atá le maoiniú ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne.