Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - RAPID Programme.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

467 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the moneys available in his Department for the RAPID programme; the requests he has received for funding of the RAPID programme; the funding which has been granted to the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22674/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The RAPID programme is a focused initiative to front-load and prioritise investment already indicated under the National Development Plan in the most disadvantaged areas in the country. Forty-five areas have been included in the programme. Strand I of RAPID relates to twenty-five urban areas and Strand II to twenty provincial towns. There are a number of measures in place in my Department to support the programme, including the funding of the local co-ordinators for each RAPID area, managing the co-ordination of the programme across the Department and ongoing consultation with senior management in the local authorities concerned.

My Department is currently examining around 230 projects under both strands of the programme which have been received from the local area implementation teams. The proposals for Strand I mainly relate to social housing, local road improvement measures and environmental issues, which are delivered on the ground by local authorities. The nature and scale of many of these projects has necessitated extensive evaluation as well as consultation with local authorities and the Area Development Management Limited RAPID support team. This evaluation and consultation process is ongoing with a view to progressing matters as far as possible in the context of the Estimates provisions for 2003 and onwards. Plans for Strand II areas, i.e. provincial towns, have recently been received in my Department and are currently being examined. In addition to RAPID projects, public agencies, including local authorities, are already providing a wide range of services in these areas.