The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the following schedule and relates to all urban and rural areas throughout the country.
The Trutz-Haase index was used in the compilation of areas for inclusion in the RAPID programme. The 25 areas designated consist of a number of DEDS, clusters of DEDs, or parts of DEDs, which came within the index, and consist of the 25 areas of greatest concentration of disadvantage in the country. Where necessary, the DED boundaries were adjusted to correspond to local understanding of neighbourhood areas so as to achieve common community focus or to take account of significantly deprived neighbourhoods of local authority residents, especially where these lie in close proximity to, but not within, the boundaries of a DED. All the designated areas are located in the main urban centres.
A second strand of the RAPID programme, which will be targeted at deprived neighbourhoods in rural areas and provincial towns, is being drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and the Department of the Environment and Local Government, and is scheduled to be operational towards the end of the year.