Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Programmes.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

686 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of money spent by his Department in each of the RAPID areas since the inception of the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12391/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The RAPID – revitalising areas by planning, investment and development – programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Government Departments and State agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense. The RAPID programme has selected 25 target areas in cities and towns and, in addition, 20 towns for priority investment and frontloading of funding under the National Development Plan 2000-06. While no dedicated Departmental financial allocations have been made to provide potential funding for proposals received under the RAPID programme as such, particular priority is given to RAPID proposals which fall within the functional areas financed under the national development plan. My Department decides on approving funding for RAPID proposals within the context of existing allocations across Votes under my Department's remit. Funding of €3,507,360 has been approved by my Department under the equal opportunities child care programme for child care proposals submitted under the RAPID Programme. The details are as set out in the following table.

RAPID Area	Project Subject	Funding Approved
		€
Limerick, King's Island	St. Mary's Creche Facilities	90,917
Dublin – South West Inner City II	Bawn Family Resource Centre, Pimlico, Dublin 8	424,584
Dublin – North Inner City II	Pitter Patter Crèche, Macro Building, Lower Sherriff St., Dublin 1	218,548
Dublin – Pearse Street	St. Mary's, City Quay	583,148
Dublin Northside (Darndale/Belcamp)	Parents Alone Resource Centre, Bunratty Drive, Coolock, Dublin 17	263,874
Blanchardstown	Parlickstown House Creche	245,547
Wicklow	Childcare Worker, Bray	95,342
Waterford	St. Joseph's Childcare and Community Centre	835,000
Kilkenny	St. Canice's Community Action	222,664
Carlow	Askea Community Childcare Programme	527,736

In addition, a capital grant of €300,000 was allocated in December 2002 to a proposal submitted under the RAPID programme for the BOND project, a probation and welfare project located in the Blanchardstown RAPID area.