Minister Ring approves over €714,000 in funding for 25 community groups for the development of specialist sensory gardens
- Published on: 16 September 2019
- Last updated on: 11 April 2025
Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development , today , announced details of over €714,000 for 25 community groups who will receive funding for specialist sensory gardens under the Department’s 2019 CLÁR programme.
Speaking today, Minister Ring said:
“This year’s CLÁR programme will, for the first time, provide funding for the development of specialist sensory gardens and complementary play equipment. These gardens are designed to stimulate the senses and can be of particular benefit in enhancing the quality of life for people with a diverse range of life challenges.”
2019 is the first year that this measure, Specialist Sensory Gardens and Complementary Play Equipment, has been funded under the programme. A sensory garden is designed to stimulate the senses by using flowers, plants and materials that engage one’s senses of sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. They provide benefit to all members of the community, as places for recreation and education.
Minister Ring continued:
“I am delighted to support the development of these gardens, which I know will create comfortable, relaxing environments for everyone to enjoy, no matter what their age or ability. I see the hard work done by members of community groups up and down the country, and I am pleased that my Department can play its part in the work of this government to support and invest in communities for the benefit of all.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
CLÁR provides funding for small scale capital projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development which was launched in January 2017. The CLÁR programme is also an important part of the overall integrated strategy to support stronger rural economies and communities for Rural Development through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
Areas targeted under the CLÁR Programme are parts of counties Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and all of County Leitrim.
Since it was relaunched in 2016, over 1,400 CLÁR projects have been funded in the areas targeted.
2019 is the first year that this measure, Specialist Sensory Gardens and Complementary Play Equipment, has been funded under the programme.
This list of projects receiving funding this year are:
| COUNTY | ORGANISATION PROJECT DETAILS | FUNDING AMOUNT |
| CAVAN | Cavan Autism Parents Support CLG Sensory Garden | Sensory Garden €25,500.00 |
| CAVAN | Project Belturbet Sensory Garden | €10,200.00 |
| CORK | Bantry Peace Park Sensory Garden Sensory Garden | €25,500.00 |
| CORK | Ballymakeera Tidy Towns Sensory Garden | €24,557.00 |
| GALWAY | Lawrencetown Community Development Group Sensory Garden | €13,943.03 |
| GALWAY | Muintearas Teo Sensory Garden | €46,622.50 |
| KERRY | An Díseart Sensory Garden €34,000.00 | |
| KERRY | Social Action Group Rathmore Sensory Garden | €19,356.00 |
| LAOIS | Coolrain Playground Sensory Garden | €59,160.00 |
| LEITRIM | Kiltyclogher Community Council Sensory Garden | €34,663.00 |
| LEITRIM | Childhood Days Drumshanbo Sensory Garden | €6,899.89 |
| LOUTH | Maria Goretti Foundation Sensory Garden | €16,923.50 |
| LONGFORD | Ballinalee Community Group Sensory Garden | €21,452.30 |
| LONGFORD | St Marys Community Campus Sensory Garden | €6,193.70 |
| MAYO | Barony Community Dev. Group Sensory Garden | €60,000.00 |
| MAYO | Keenagh Devlopment Committee Sensory Garden | €20,000.00 |
| MONAGHAN | Youth Work Ireland Cavan Monaghan Sensory youth and community Space | €5,950.00 |
| MONAGHAN | Aghabog Early Years Sensory Garden | €11,176.00 |
| ROSCOMMON | Kilronan Community Playschool Sensory Garden | €23,800.00 |
| ROSCOMMON | Keadue Sportsfield Sensory Garden Sensory Garden | €44,559.04 |
| SLIGO | Dromore West Community Council Sensory Garden | €51,000.00 |
| TIPPERARY | Ballysloe Tidy Towns Sensory Garden | €51,000.00 |
| TIPPERARY | Ballyporeen Community Council Ltd. Sensory Garden | €51,000.00 |
| WESTMEATH | Raharney Community Park Sensory Garden | €17,000.00 |
| WICKLOW | Knockananna Community Group - Sensory Garden Sensory Garden | €34,000.00 |