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. My Department, supported by Area Development Management Limited, co-ordinates implementation of the programme.
I acknowledge the huge investment of time, local knowledge and commitment by members of local communities and area implementation teams in drawing up the plans in each of the RAPID areas. While it would not be possible for me to quantify the cost of the consultation process, this process was supported by my Department in the amount of €2,280,595 since the establishment of the programme in 2001. This amount includes support to local areas and administration costs associated with the support team in ADM. In addition, a local co-ordinator was appointed to work with each area to prepare and develop the plan. While this cost is carried by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, I understand that the total cost of the 45 co-ordinators is approximately €2.2 million.
While the scale of the proposals contained in the RAPID plans is large, nevertheless, progress in implementing the plans has been slower than anticipated. While the Government remains fully committed to RAPID, the delivery of the programme may require adjustment. What I am currently looking at, therefore, are options to bring about greater progress under the programme and I am in discussions with my Cabinet colleagues as to how best this might be achieved.
The Deputy will appreciate it is a matter for each Department to advance and report on progress in relation to specific proposals in the plans. I understand that ADM has forwarded a report to each RAPID area outlining the updated position of all proposals from the plans, including short-term proposals or test cases, as referred to by the Deputy. These short-term proposals-test cases were pursued as a possible mechanism to speed up implementation of the programme. Approval was sought on a number of actions across all areas that were considered possible to fund and progress in the short-term. However, the outcome to date of this exercise has not led to significant further progress.
As regards my Department, proposals from the RAPID plans fall to be considered under the young people's facilities and services fund, the community development programme and funding for local drugs task forces. In the case of proposals relevant to the young people's facilities and services fund, proposals submitted under the RAPID plans will be considered in the context of decisions to be made under round II and in light of the overall funding position for 2003.
Additional information
A number of proposals in RAPID plans relate to the community development programme. I am pleased to inform the House that my Department announced allocations of funding to six new community development projects in RAPID areas yesterday. Projects in Bluebell, Dolphin House, Inchicore, Merchant's Quay-Usher's Quay, Longford town and Tipperary each received a renewable one year contract for funding of €60,000. A number of proposals from RAPID plans are also being pursued through the local drugs task force plans.
