Vol. 558 No. 4
107 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date in regard to the implementation of the RAPID programme; the number of areas in respect of which plans have been submitted to his Department; the total projected budgets for these plans; when work on the implementation of the plans is likely to get under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24464/02]
118 Mr. English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress which has been made under the RAPID programme in each RAPID area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 118 together.
Strand I of the RAPID programme targets 25 urban areas and strand two targets 20 provincial towns. An area implementation team was established in each of these areas to prepare a plan for the area. Plans were approved by the relevant city/county development boards, prior to being sent to the national co-ordinator for the programme at Area Development Management Limited – ADM. Proposals from the plans were then forwarded to the relevant Government Department for consideration. While proposals from strand one were forwarded to Departments some time ago, initial strand two proposals were only recently submitted to Departments.
It is a matter for individual Departments to report on progress in relation to implementing RAPID proposals that fall within their remit. Regarding my Department, proposals from strand one RAPID plans fall to be considered under the young peoples facilities and services fund, YPFSF, the community development programme, CDP, and funding for the drugs initiative.
In the case of proposals relevant to the YPFSF, the position is that the national assessment committee of the fund, which is chaired by my Department, is currently examining capital proposals submitted by the development groups under round two of the fund. With regard to services projects, the committee is awaiting the completion of the external evaluation of the fund, which is due shortly, before seeking such proposals under round two. Proposals submitted under the RAPID plans will be considered in the context of decisions to be made under round two and in light of the overall funding position for 2003.
A number of proposals from RAPID plans that are relevant to the drugs initiative, are being pursued through the local drugs task force plans.
Eight priority areas for development of a community development project have been identified in the RAPID plans i.e., Loughlinstown, Shanganagh, Crumlin, Bluebell, Dolphin House, Inchicore, CDP for the arts and Waterford city.
While there has been no allocation of funding in respect of community development projects in the aforementioned areas to date, the Deputy should note that pre-development work is under way. The full establishment of these groups as community development projects in 2003 is subject to available resources and competing commitments within the programme. In the case of the CDP for the arts and Waterford city, I understand that the applications for inclusion in programme have yet to be assessed.
Proposals under Strand II of the programme were recently received in my Department and are currently being examined with a view to progressing them as soon as possible.
