CLAR Programme

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CLAR Funding 2026 

Online applications are open now and will close at 4pm on Monday 8 June 2026 

To register

The Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer of your community group must first register your community group on My Council Services (MCS).

To apply 

You can complete your community group’s online application by clicking on this link to MCS: https://iapp.itouchvision.com/iappcustomer

 INFORMATION

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, recently launched the 2026 CLAR Scheme. CLAR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

Details are available on the Department’s website. Click this link to view the details

The scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG).  It is delivered by local authorities in consultation with schools, local community and voluntary groups and local development companies.

The measures being funded under the 2026 CLAR programme are:

Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities

Measure 1 will support a variety of capital projects provided that they contribute to the enhancement of existing, and/or the development of new, accessible Community Recreation Facilities. All community amenities funded under this programme must, in so far as practicable, be accessible to all abilities and ages.

A minimum grant of €5,000 and maximum grant of €65,000 will apply to this measure. To facilitate projects of a slightly greater scale, each local authority can submit two applications seeking grant funding of up to €100,000. The scheme will provide up to 90% of the cost. The remaining 10% or balance of the cost must be provided through local authority/community/other resources. Philanthropic contributions will be accepted as full or part of match funding costs. This funding must be in place at the time of application.  Please note that match funding cannot come from other DRCDG Schemes.

The list below provides an indication of the types of projects that may be supported, but is not exhaustive:

  • Small scale renovation works to community facilities open to the wider community such as community centres/sports centres/clubhouses of sporting groups/youth centres/men’s sheds etc. This includes external works such as parking and accessibility enhancements
  • Multi-use gaming areas (MUGAs)/Astro-turf facilities including upgrades (see Scheme Outline for information box in respect of astro turf surfaces)
  • Playgrounds/skateboard parks/pump tracks/cycling tracks/teenage spaces
  • Walking/running /athletics tracks
  • Handball alleys/tennis courts/basketball courts/cricket grounds/ outdoor bowling areas
  • Community gyms/community cinemas
  • Sensory gardens/Community gardens/ allotments/ biodiversity planting
  • Access to unique local heritage sites / areas of natural beauty
  • Enhanced outdoor toilet and changing facilities
  • Car parking
  • Community focussed traffic safety measures
  • Improving access at sports grounds e.g. development/upgrade of spectator stands at local sports grounds with a particular focus on improving access for people of all abilities and ages
  • Toilets/showers in community facilities but not sports team changing rooms or showers.
  • Emergency Generators. These must be mobile to allow for shared community use. There must be confirmation that the facilities that will use the generator have changeover switches in place and the cost of installing these switches in these facilities can be included as part of the generator project application
  • Actions to remediate light pollution (terrestrial and marine) through restorative lighting strategies to protect and/or retore Ireland’s dark skies
  • Solar Bins

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To Apply

CLAR 2026 Measure 1 Online Application https://iapp.itouchvision.com/iappcustomer

CLAR 2026 Measure 1 Scheme Outline 2026_CLAR_Measure_1_Scheme_Outline.pdf (size 1.1 MB)

For Measure 1, apply online by 4pm on Monday 8 June 2026

LATE AND INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

 If you need to register more than one community group, please email your details to mcsqueries@longfordcoco.ie and they will arrange this for you.  Also, they can help with any technical issues.

Please see the following for your information; 

CLAR Maps and the LECP Plans

To check eligibility regarding Measure 1, please email clar@longfordcoco.ie or call 043 334 33 07, or 043 334 34 56.

Measure 2 (M2): Mobility, Cancer Care, Community First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport.  

This measure is being administered directly by the Department.

Measure 2 is open to established organisations/groups that operate on a voluntary basis and provide:

  • transport to/from day care/other medical/therapy/respite services for those with significant mobility

issues including requiring specialised wheelchair accessible vehicles; or

  • transport to/from designated cancer treatment hospitals/centres under the National Cancer Care

Programme; or

  • Community First Response Support/Search and Recovery organisations.
  • Meals on Wheels services

M2 closing date is by 22 May 2026

For further information, see the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht webpage by clicking on this link https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht

 

Measure 3 (M3): ‘Our Living Islands’

This measure is being administered directly by the Department.

This Measure will fund interventions on inhabited offshore Islands under:

3a) Island Community Transport;

and

3b) Island Community Amenities.

M3 closing date is by 3 July 2026

For further information, see the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht webpage by clicking on this link https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht

 

 

Data Privacy 

The purpose of processing personal data collected on this application form is to assist Longford County Council manage and administer your application. We process this personal data under Article (6)(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), 'processing is necessary for the performance of the contract to which that data subject is party'. Further information on how Longford County Council process your personal data and your rights can be found on our Privacy Policy.