€70m invested in programme to address rural decline

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon O'Cuiv has announced that €70m has been invested in the Clar programme since its launch two years ago.

The programme was established in October 2001 to tackle the problems of depopulation and declining services in rural areas.

It operates in rural areas that have seen their populations decline by an average of 50% in the past 80 years.

Minister O'Cuiv said today that he was delighted with the success of the programme in the past two years.