Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 5

Written Answers - Departmental Programmes.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

162 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the specific steps his Department intends to take to ensure that actions targeted at disadvantaged areas, such as the RAPID and CLÁR programmes, operate effectively in regard to the commitment given in Sustaining Progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8308/03]

Enda Kenny

Question:

165 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the commitment by his Department in the social partnership agreement for 2003-05 to ensure the effectiveness of actions targeted at disadvantaged areas and in particular the RAPID and CLÁR programmes; and if he intends to conduct a major review of these particular programmes. [8384/03]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

218 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the specific steps his Department intends to take to ensure that actions targeted at disadvantaged areas, such as the RAPID and CLÁR programmes, operate effectively in regard to the commitment given in Sustaining Progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8452/03]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

219 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the RAPID and CLÁR programmes; the situation regarding both of these programmes in County Kerry at present; his plans for the expansion of these programmes in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8451/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 162, 165, 218 and 219 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, the RAPID programme is a focused initiative by Government to target the 45 most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the country. Strand 1 targets 25 urban areas and strand 2 targets 20 provincial towns around the country. My Department, supported by Area Development Management, ADM, Limited oversees the implementation of the programme.

My Department is working closely with Departments to oversee and, where necessary, identify ways of improving implementation of the programme. In addition, a national monitoring committee, with an independent chairperson, was established to oversee implementation of the programme at national level and to report to Government on its implementation. This committee comprises representatives from all relevant Departments, State agencies, the community and voluntary sectors and other groups as appropriate.

As the Deputies will be aware, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established against a background of concern at the multiplicity of structures through which schemes and programmes relating to community and local development are delivered. One of my Department's primary objectives is to maximise the impact, coherence and effectiveness of the programmes for which it is responsible. I am working closely with my ministerial colleagues, particularly the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, so as to deliver the most effective support possible.

As a first step, I am undertaking a review of the structures that fall within the remit of my Department, with a view to maximising optimal coherence across the carious schemes. I am consulting with all the relevant parties, ADM area partnerships, ADM funded community groups, community development projects, core funded groups, Leader groups, local drugs task forces and the area implementation teams and all views will be considered in the context of this review. I want to ensure that expenditure on such programmes has a positive impact on the communities involved, particularly in communities in designated areas of disadvantage.

In regard to CLÁR, the measures introduced under the programme were decided after consultation with the communities in the areas concerned. Furthermore, they are, for the most part, operated in tandem with the lead Departments or agencies, as appropriate, thus ensuring efficiency and effectiveness as well as meeting the needs of the people in the CLÁR areas. I intend to continue this practice in relation to any new measures I may introduce under this programme. Equally, I will keep under review the operation of existing measures.

As regards RAPID in County Kerry, Tralee is one of the towns that was selected under strand 2. An area implementation team was established in Tralee to prepare a plan for the area. This plan was approved at county development board level before being sent to ADM. Proposals from the plan were then forwarded to relevant Departments for consideration. Departments have begun to carry out specific actions to progress the area action plans.

The expenditure in County Kerry to date under the CLÁR programme is €1,484,133 out of total expenditure of €14,485,000. An Agreed Programme for Government contained a commitment to annual funding for the CLÁR programme and to consider additional areas for inclusion in the light of the 2002 population census results.

The Government decided on the additional areas for inclusion in the CLÁR programme and I announced these on 17 January last. In the case of Kerry, seven DEDs have been added, bringing to 71 the number of DEDs in the county now included in the programme.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

163 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the circumstances where matching funding has not been available from his Department to the Bantry Bay coastal zone charter, resulting in its imminent closure. [8206/03]

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

The Deputy will no doubt be aware that my Department has responsibility for community and local development, including delivery of the Leader and CLÁR programmes.

The Bantry Bay coastal zone charter contacted my Department in February 2003 regarding the funding of this project and was advised that it might pursue the possibility of funding the project through the Leader programmes and might make a formal proposal to the local Leader group, West Cork Leader Co-operative Limited. Leader is the EU community initiative for rural development that provides approved local action groups with public funding – EU and national – to implement multi-sectoral business plans for the development of their own areas.

The Leader programme is operated in accordance with the bottom-up philosophy of rural development, which means that the local Leader group is the decision-making authority in relation to approving actions falling within its business plan.

The Deputy will appreciate that the funding of projects directly by my Department under the Leader programme is prohibited by the EU regulations. I understand that my colleague the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and his Department are currently developing a national strategy that will deliver a more strategic approach to coastal areas generally and their resources. Legislative proposals to support the development and effective operation of integrated coastal zone management will be formulated in co-operation with other public bodies. I understand that the intention is to publish legislative proposals in 2004.

Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 109.

Question No. 165 answered with Question No. 162.

Question No. 166 answered with Question No. 118.