A former Mayor of Clare claims the size of this county’s share of a national funding pool is “disappointing” and says it’s as if its funding has been “cut in half”.
It comes as money awarded to Clare community projects under the latest round of a Government fund to support areas hosting refugees accounts for under 5% of the total doled out nationwide.
The fund was introduced in 2023 as a means of supporting areas in their efforts to accommodate Ukrainian refugees as well as International Protection Applicants.
According to the latest figures, Clare is hosting the sixth-highest number of Ukrainians behind Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Donegal and Galway, with 5,048 residing here.
When it comes to International Protection Applicants, Clare County Council ranks twelfth-highest with 997 living in accommodation centres across the county.
As part of the Community Recognition Fund 2024 announcement last April, the county was awarded the sixth-highest amount of €2.6 million to support various community projects.
While its allocation under the first phase of the 2024 fund accounted for more than 10% of the nationwide figure, the latest amount given to Clare is less than 5% of the total awarded.
Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard says she’d like to see a full list of the applications that were submitted.
Among the successful projects in this phase of the fund are the repair of the roof the Tullyvarraga Community Hall in Shannon and the construction of a community car park with bicycle parking in Bodyke, each of which are being supported to the tune of €150,000.
Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley believes the projects will serve host communities long after the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
Shannon Fine Gael Councillor Tony Mulcahy meanwhile claims the fund is an example of supporting new arrivals rather “marching against them”.
You can listen to the full interview here:
