Irish Minister of State, Tony Killeen has said that this week's Government allocation to Clare County Council, of funds worth almost €380k would lead to significant improvements in the County's road infrastructure.

Under the 2008 CLÁR programme, the sum of €3m each is being provided by the Department of Transport and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for works to local secondary and tertiary roads in CLÁR areas.

Minister of State Killeen stated the grant allocation to County Clare of €376,399.43, which is the seventh highest of all allocations received by local authorities in Ireland, would be of enormous benefit to local communities across the county.

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According to the Clare TD: "Clare County Council's allocation was determined by the county's percentage of the total population in CLÁR areas. The grant will enable the local authority to fund local secondary and tertiary roads projects. The Council may also use the funds to replace, widen or strengthen bridges on local secondary and local tertiary, subject to the prior approval of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government."

The Minister added: "The funding announcement is concrete proof that the Government is determined to revitalise declining rural areas. Significant progress has been made in recent years of improving national infrastructure. This scheme for co-funding non-national roads in CLÁR areas has been extremely successful so far, and I know that the works that have been carried out to date have been of enormous benefit to the local communities."

(JM)