• Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Ballycuggaran all to benefit
• Funding part of Ireland’s first National Outdoor Recreation Strategy

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of €768,204 in funding for Clare, under the Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors initiative.

Minister Heather Humphreys has today launched the initiative, which is a five-year ambitious and transformational National Outdoor Recreation Strategy.

“Clare is a county with iconic nature and outdoor options on our doorstep,” said Deputy Crowe.

“We all know the value of the Cliffs of Moher to our local economy and the pull that has for tourists from around this island but also further afield.

“It’s vital that we protect and maintain them, while acknowledging the tourist footfall that they bring in.

“Today’s announcement has seen €500,000 allocated to the Cliffs of Moher North Coastal Walk – one that many of us will have traversed over the years and one that virtually every visitor to our county has walked.

“The Cliffs and the Burren geopark will also share €87,304 for upgrade works, while a sum of €180,900 has been allocated to Ballycuggaran/Two Mile Gate in the east of the county for the upgrade of facilities there.

“Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, I think we’ve all gained a newfound love and respect for the great outdoors, whether that be the coast or a forest walk or any of the other amenities dotted across Clare.

“The benefits to spending time outdoors are well documented and this, combined with the tourism and economic impact of having such fantastic amenities locally, means maintenance on these sites is key.

“I’m glad to see the government acknowledge the importance of the outdoors and I look forward to seeing this funding put to good use at some of our best-known places.”

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• Part of €10m national fund
• Large number of community organisations can apply

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of more than €300,000 in funding to assist community organisations in Clare such as community centres and parish halls with the rising costs of energy bills.

Minister Heather Humphreys has issued the funding today, which can be applied for via the Clare Local Development Company, in light of the costs in the energy sector at present.

Funding will be available to support Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, ICA Groups, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and much more.

“The rising costs in energy bills has been extremely concerning for every household and business,” said Deputy Crowe.

“For community groups, such as community centres, parish halls, etc they rely on the work of volunteers but moreover, to keep the doors open, they rely on donations, fundraising and so on.

“With the rising cost of living, this stream of funding is already under strain but while income is precarious, bills are rising and the stress that this puts on voluntary groups is extreme.

“These community centres, parish halls, social clubs and so on are the lifeblood of rural Ireland and the importance of their existence in our small towns and villages cannot be understated.

“These grants will help support these groups with electricity bills, insurance costs or other overheads – but also groups can apply for funding to carry out small upgrade works and to purchase equipment to support their activities such as laptops, printers, lawnmowers, training equipment and so on.

“The grants in Clare will be administered via the Clare Local Development Company and those who want a share of this fund can contact them on 065-6866800 for further information.”

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• Grants allocated under Dormant Accounts Funding
• Aims to promote inclusivity in sport

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the allocation of €112,400 in funding for Clare Sports Partnership, under Sport Ireland’s Dormant Accounts Funding.

The fund is being issued under a number of headings, all of which aim to improve and promote inclusivity in sports.

The funding for Clare is as follows:

• Round 3 Hub Funding Allocation – €30,000
• Round 4 Hub Funding Allocation – €20,000
• Youth Leadership – €14,900
• Volunteer Supports – €20,000
• Sports Inclusion Disability Projects – €27,500

“Today’s allocation to Co. Clare is part of an overall €6.1 million boost for sport and physical activity measures across the country,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Specifically, this investment aims to engage communities across the country, focusing on people living in disadvantaged communities, people with a disability, women and girls, and people who are educationally disadvantaged. Inclusion is a core value within sport, with sports inclusion disability projects also being prioritised within the funding.

“It’s essential, in my view, that sport is accessible to all regardless of circumstances.

“It’s one of the few things that can bring people of all backgrounds together and initiatives like this, which reach out to communities that for a variety of reasons are marginalised in sport, are so important.

“The allocation for Clare has specific funds ringfenced for targeting disability projects, as well as youth leadership, both of which are crucial.

“I look forward to working with Clare Sports Partnership and seeing what they do with this allocation of funding in the coming months and I also look forward to further tranches of the Dormant Accounts Funding being issued down the line.”

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• Funding announced under Community Centres Investment Fund
• 17 successful applicants in Clare

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of over €386,000 in funding for 17 community centres, parish halls, GAA clubhouses and community facilities across Clare today.

The funding has been allocated by Minister Heather Humphreys, with grants of up to €25,000 available for improvement and upgrade works.

“I’m a regular user of many of these facilities for my weekly clinics around the county so I’m delighted to see the hard work put in by these groups in attaining this funding pay off,” said Deputy Crowe.

“These grants, issued under the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) will support groups to carry out refurbishments and improvements of their local community facility.

“This can include everything from energy retrofitting to disability access; from new windows and doors to improvements to the services provided such as Meals on Wheels.

“I know how difficult it is for many of these community groups to fundraise for necessary repairs and so forth on their premises so it’s particularly welcome at present, especially in light of the rising building costs.

“I look forward to visiting each of these facilities once again on my travels around Clare to hear what they intend on doing with their grants.

“In a county like Clare, the community centre or the parish hall or the GAA clubhouse – whatever it may be – is the heart of the community, particularly in rural areas.

“It’s vital that we support them in every way possible.

“I’m also aware that many community centres are struggling to make ends meet with rising energy bills and water tariffs – this is an issue I have raised directly with Minister Humphreys and I want to see strong action taken to ensure the survival of these facilities outside of remedial works.”

Full list of successful applicants

• Ballyvaughan Hall CLG (€24,360.95)
• Carrigoran House (€13,896.94)
• Cill Mhuire Community Centre CLG (€23,137)
• Cnoc na Gaoithe Cultural Centre (€25,000)
• Crusheen Community Centre CLG (€25,000)
• Doonbeg Community Development Co. (€24,085.86)
• Feakle Muintir na Tire (€24,023.04)
• Kilmurry McMahon Community Centre Committee (€11,747.25)
• Loughgraney Community Development Association (€23,933)
• Mike McTigue Community Centre (€25,000)
• Miltown Malbay Development Company Ltd (€25,000)
• Mná ag Gáire (€25,000)
• Ogonnelloe Community Centre Ltd (€16,110)
• Ruan Dysart Resource Group CLG (€25,000)
• Sixmilebridge GAA Club (€24,947.47)
• Tulach na Farraighe Community Hall (€25,000)
• West Clare Family Resource Centre (€25,000)

• Double-decker buses to be rolled out
• Route under extreme pressure in recent weeks

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed confirmation from Bus Éireann that capacity is to increase on the highly-utilised 343 service, which has been under severe pressure in recent weeks.

The route travels from Ennis to Limerick, stopping in Clarecastle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Shannon town, Shannon Airport, Sixmilebridge and other intermediate stops.

“I’m delighted to announce that Bus Éireann will start running double decker buses on the 343 service from next week on,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This route operates between many of our county’s most significant towns and Limerick and is a very popular service for people trying to get to and from work or their place of education.

“In recent months, the route corridor has become home to approximately 1,000 Ukrainian refugees living in accommodation centres in Shannon, Bunratty and the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cratloe.

“Most of these have no independent way of travelling, so they to are reliant on the 343 bus service.

“The rising cost of petrol and diesel has also made more people switch from driving their car to work to travelling by bus.

“In recent weeks, the 343 service has been crammed at virtually all times of the day and very often, buses that are full to capacity have to drive past designated stops without being able to pick up any additional passengers.

“This has caused people to be late for work or miss days from school and quite a number of frustrated people have been in contact with me.

“I’ve been in over and back correspondence with the NTA and senior Bus Éireann management and I’m delighted to confirm that capacity on this route will be increased from next week onwards, with the current single-deck buses being replaced with double-deckers.

“Bus Éireann officials have risk-assessed the route, in terms of trees and objects higher than street level that could obstruct a double-decker service and this appraisal has confirmed that it will be fully safe and viable.”

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