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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 1

Written Answers. - RAPID Programme.

Jack Wall

Question:

342 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the total funding his Department has made available for a RAPID programme (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25924/02]

The Department of Health and Children has received one proposal to date in respect of a RAPID strand II project in Athy, County Kildare. This project is a proposal for the expansion of counselling services for Athy youth and has a revenue cost of €279,055 per annum. RAPID strand II proposals were received in the Department on 4 November and are currently being processed. Officials from my Department have written to the RAPID co-ordinators and to the chief executive officers of the relevant health authorities to request that they prioritise the list of RAPID strand II projects for their boards, paying particular attention to the top five priorities. They are to include as many prioritised RAPID proposals as possible in their service plans for 2003. An internal group comprising representatives of relevant units within the Department of Health and Children has been established to ensure co-ordination with health board counterparts in service areas for which RAPID proposals have been submitted. Government policy is that RAPID is to be funded through the prioritisation of the identified areas and the front loading to them of a significant share of the funding allocated under the national development plan. Agencies have been asked to implement the programme from within their existing resources.

Until health board service plans have been received in the Department of Health and Children, it will not be possible to indicate the amount of money allocated for RAPID projects in 2003.

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