Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 1

Other Questions. - RAPID Programme.

Willie Penrose

Question:

42 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his proposals for a programme similar to the RAPID initiative for rural areas and rural provincial towns; the timescale for any such programme; the steps which will be taken to ensure this programme is specifically designed for rural areas, rather than simply an urban based programme imposed on rural areas; the consultation which will be held with rural partnerships regarding the development of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Mr. E. Ryan):

The revitalising areas by planning, investment and development programme, otherwise known as the RAPID programme, targets the 25 most deprived neighbourhoods in the State for special investment involving the front-loading of State investment for facilities and services to bring about a major improvement in the living standards of the residents of these areas over the next three years. As the 25 areas identified by the objective designation process are all located in the major urban centres, the Government has decided that there will be a second strand to this programme which will be introduced over the next few months for rural areas and provincial towns.

The second strand of the programme will be drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the Department of the Environment and Local Government working together to devise proposals to effectively address the particular needs of rural areas and provincial towns. A working group chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and involving officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, the Department of the Environment and Local Government, my own Department and Area Development Management Limited has been established to examine how this strand of the programme might best be put into operation. Once the broad parameters are set, and following consultation with relevant agencies and the social partners, proposals will be submitted to Government in due course.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin:

The Minister said consultations will begin in a few months' time. Does he have a specific time in mind? With whom will he consult? It is important that the programme being devised is not urban-based as this would not be suitable for rural areas. Will it be a completely different type of programme?

Mr. E. Ryan:

One of the reasons rural areas did not show up in the deprivation index is that rural deprivation is more spread out. It was in urban areas that obvious deprivation showed up. We recognised that there are problems in rural areas that we need to address. There are also problems in small rural towns where there are smaller communities and where deprivation is slightly different from that in larger urban areas. We are examining ways to address those problems. As in the case of the RAPID programme, there definitely will be consultation with local communities, partnerships and with the voluntary sector.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin:

When will it start?

Mr. E. Ryan:

The Department is currently trying to pull things together. I will come back to the Deputy with a more exact date.

Mr. Deenihan:

Local authorities have already designated pilot areas because of depopulation and rural deprivation. Will the Department consider those areas in the allocation of future funding and in deciding on the pilot areas to be included in its programme?

Mr. E. Ryan:

It will be a matter for the group to which I referred to decide on the areas, as happened in the case of the 25 areas already chosen. Obviously not everybody is happy with the 25 areas chosen. It would be impossible for me to answer "yes" as I do not know the areas. We realise there is a difference between urban and rural neglect.

Mr. Deenihan:

Will the Minister give preferential treatment to those areas or does he consider it to be a matter for the local authorities?

An Ceann Comhairle:

I ask Deputies not to interrupt unless the Chair gives them the floor.

Mr. E. Ryan:

There are obvious areas which fall into this category. One did not have to be a brain surgeon to select the 25 areas which were chosen. All Deputies could list areas in urban blackspots which fall into this category. If local authorities have already pinpointed areas then they will probably fall into this category. It is impossible for me to say the specific locations as it will be a matter for the Department to set the criteria and select the areas to be included. By its nature, obviously there are areas which will be excluded under the RAPID programme and, as we have discovered, they will not be happy. As I have said to communities which have been excluded, this does not necessarily mean they will not get funding. All we are doing is prioritising certain areas. The other areas can still apply for funding and, hopefully, they will get it.

An Ceann Comhairle:

As time is limited, I will allow a brief supplementary from Deputies Moynihan-Cronin, Naughten and Stanton.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin:

What funding will be spent under the programme on urban areas and what funding has been ring-fenced for a similar programme for rural areas?

Mr. Naughten:

Why is the lead Department the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development rather than the Minister's Department and the area partnership boards which have experience in dealing with disadvantage and have highlighted deprived areas? Under this proposal the process will have to be restarted.

Mr. Stanton:

Under what programme will funding be made available?

Mr. E. Ryan:

On the funding, there is no set amount. The national development plan proposes expenditure in excess of £40 billion over the next seven years and, of this amount, approximately £15 billion is for social inclusion measures. Regardless of which Government sector it comes under, once a plan is drawn up for an area and submitted it will be given priority by the Department. There is no set amount; the Department will prioritise it and try to implement the national development plan over three years as opposed to seven years for the country as a whole. The reason the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development was chosen is that it has responsibility for agriculture and rural development.

Mr. Naughten:

A fig leaf for the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cúiv.

An Ceann Comhairle:

We must conclude this question as we are way over the time limit.

Mr. E. Ryan:

Most people believed that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development should have responsibility for this programme. The funding can be drawn down under all Departments.