6. How will CLÁR operate?
CLÁR will operate through two basic instruments:
(1) The reprioritising of investments under the National Development Plan to
ensure that these areas get priority of investment under the Plan.
(2) A €25.4m dedicated fund over two years (2002-2003) to provide matching
funding to Government Departments and other State Agencies for special
projects, including some not included in the NDP that are urgently
needed for rural development.
7. What can be prioritised?
Basically the question of reprioritisation of spending related to anything covered under the NDP including physical infrastructure, social infrastructure and community infrastructure.
8. What about the €25.4m and what will it be spent on?
The €25.4m will be directed towards special projects that might not otherwise be funded, even under reprioritization of the NDP. The bulk of this money will be spent on public and community projects, e.g. broadband, road, physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, community infrastructure and infrastructure for the provision of facilities for the very young.
9. What sort of projects will be given priority?
Priority will be given to co-funded projects to be undertaken by other State Agencies and in the case of community development also by the local community. Particular consideration will be given to projects that provide basic social infrastructure such as childcare, care of the elderly and other social services for the vulnerable groups.
Special consideration will also be given to economic infrastructure, such as enterprise centres, small broadband projects and other basic infrastructure, which would have a clear benefit in terms of employment creation, thus providing opportunities to local people who otherwise would have limited employment expectations.
10. What Structures & Procedures will be followed?
The first step in the process is to have a public consultation process, which was completed by Christmas 2001. The County Development (CDB's) and the Directors of Community & Enterprise are central to this process. They will act as a conduit and co-ordinator of efforts between the various counties and areas and the Department. The Department will analyse the various priorities and proposals put forward and then raise these issues in bilateral meetings, firstly with the Government Departments and then at the Cabinet Subcommittee on Social Inclusion (and Rural Development).
Once this process is complete decisions will be made on the action to be taken in each area.
