What is CLÁR?

1. What is CLÁR?
   As part of the agreement with the Social Partners, a programme called RAPID was commenced to ensure that in the National Development Plan, priority would be given to areas of special disadvantage, both rural and urban. The urban areas have already been selected under the RAPID Programme and it is hoped to announce a similar RAPID Programme for provincial towns in the near future. CLÁR is the rural version of RAPID.


2. Why is the programme called CLÁR?
   Clár (Ceantair Laga Ard Riachtanais) is a specially modelled programme for rural areas. Its approach differs radically from RAPID in the urban areas because the problems are different. In other words, instead of trying to use an urban model in a rural setting this is a specially designed rural model for a rural setting.


3. How were the CLÁR areas selected?
   The CLÁR areas were selected on the basis of population decline between 1926 and 1996 (the most recent census). It was decided that each area would have to have a minimum population of 4,000 people and a maximum population of less than 30,000 people. One area, the Cooley area in Co. Louth was selected on the basis that it suffered total destocking during the foot & mouth crisis this year.


4. Why was depopulation used as a criterion?
   It was considered that a lot of rural decline problems arise from the vicious circle that pertains to providing services in areas where the population is decreasing. There has been a lot of debate recently in relation to the withdrawal of rural services, the closure of schools and Garda Stations etc., and the negative effect this has on the disadvantaged in these areas. Lack of cost benefit and also decline in population are often used as reasons for not investing in these areas. CLÁR is an effort to reverse this trend and to ensure priority development in these areas of greater need.


5. Who will co-ordinate CLÁR?
   CLÁR will be co-ordinated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in association with the County Development Boards. The role of the Department is to facilitate the reprioritisation of developments and, if necessary, provide supplemental funding to Government Departments and Agencies, not to set up a new agency. The National Rural Development Forum will also act as a Monitoring Committee for the CLÁR initiative.