Limerick City and County Council invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for funding from community groups located in designated CLÁR areas who may have suitable projects for consideration under the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s expanded CLÁR scheme.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, recently announced an expansion of the CLÁR programme to rural areas which were previously ineligible including new Electoral Divisions (Eds) in County Limerick. Please click here to view the press release. The CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in designated CLÁR areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population and/or socio-economic disadvantage and geographic remoteness. Please click here to view an expanded Map of Limerick's CLÁR 2026 areas (Electoral Areas).
The Measure being funded under the 2026 CLÁR programme, which is delivered through Limerick City and County Council, is:
Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Examples of projects eligible for funding under this scheme include:
- Small scale renovation works to community facilities open to the wider community
- Multi-use gaming areas (MUGAs)/Astro-turf facilities including upgrades
- 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
- 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
- Actions to remediate light pollution (terrestrial and marine) through restorative lighting strategies to protect and/or retore Ireland’s dark skies
- Solar Bins
Limerick City and County Council invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from Schools/Community Groups and Local Development Companies in respect of Measure 1 for projects within the designated CLÁR areas. Community Groups can include local sporting organisations where the infrastructure being supported is for the benefit of the community generally (not just the sporting organisation) and is made freely available to all members of the community.
Any community amenities funded must be open to the public without a requirement to be a member of a club, enrolled in a school etc. Facilities on school grounds must be open to the public outside of school hours e.g. evenings, weekends and school holidays.
All expressions of interest will be assessed with regard to the priorities detailed in the Measure 1 Scheme Outline, with priority afforded to 14 eligible projects that align with the objectives of the scheme.
Grant funding available for 14 priority applications will range as follows:
- Projects from €5,000 up to €65,000 – a maximum of 12 projects can be selected for progression to full application stage.
- Projects from €5,000 up to €100,000 – a maximum of 2 projects can be selected for progression to full application stage.
How to apply
All applicants must complete an online Expression of Interest form via this link.
Completed online Expression of Interest forms with supporting documentation must be submitted online no later than Friday 22nd May 2026.
Please direct any enquiries to the Rural Development Department on 061-556008 or by email to CLAR@limerick.ie