Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 1

Written Answers. - RAPID Programme.

Bernard Allen

Question:

384 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date regarding the implementation of strand II of the RAPID programme catering for rural areas and provincial towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17513/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

385 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date regarding the implementation of strand II of the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17561/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

386 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress regarding the implementation of the RAPID programme for disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17597/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

387 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on the progress of the RAPID programme to date; the total funding available; the amount of investment which will be targeted to each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17619/02]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 387, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the RAPID programme is a focused initiative by the Government to target the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the country. Under the programme priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the designated areas through front-loading State resources, available under the national development plan. The programme also calls on Departments and State agencies to bring about better co-ordination and closer integration in the delivery of services. There are two strands of the RAPID programme. Strand I targets 25 urban areas and strand II targets 20 provincial towns.

Under strand I, area implementation teams with the assistance of a local co-ordinator, prepared a plan for each area. Plans were approved by the relevant city/county development boards earlier this year, prior to being sent to the national co-ordinator for the programme at ADM Limited. Proposals from the plans were then forwarded by ADM to the relevant Departments for consideration and follow up action. Departments are examining these plans at present.

As regards strand II, area implementation teams have been established and local co-ordinators appointed in each of the areas. Work is under way in preparing a plan for each area. It is expected that initial plans will be submitted to ADM later this month.