Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Programmes.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

245 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria that his Department utilises in evaluating requests for assistance received from post primary schools located in areas designated under the RAPID programme, established by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24347/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The RAPID programme is designed to harness the opportunities and resources of the national development plan, NDP, through the frontloading and prioritisation of investment to the 45 most deprived communities in the country – 25 urban areas and 20 provincial towns. This does not involve additional funding to that being provided under the NDP.

The RAPID programme is managed within the Department of Education and Science by the social inclusion unit. RAPID proposals are submitted, in the first instance, to the social inclusion unit through Area Development Management Limited. The social inclusion unit is responsible for examining the proposals and determining whether or not they lie within the responsibility of the Department. Relevant proposals are then disseminated to the appropriate line section within the Department for action. It is the responsibility of the line sections to evaluate proposals in the light of their remit, priorities and objectives. The relevant line section is also responsible for responding directly to the project sponsor. The social inclusion unit follows up where necessary to ensure that all proposals receive a timely response.

The social inclusion unit is also responsible for the following tasks as part of its co-ordinating role in relation to the RAPID programme: compilation of reporting templates for the national monitoring committee; acting as the point of contact for RAPID co-ordinators and project sponsors with queries about specific proposals; and responsible for briefing line sections within the Department on the RAPID programme and the necessity of engaging with it.

The procedures which have been put in place as a means of co-ordinating this Department's response to the RAPID programme have proved effective. All of the RAPID proposals submitted to the Department have received an official response and any queries from RAPID co-ordinators or project sponsors are dealt with by the social inclusion unit in a timely manner.

Some €460 million is being provided by my Department in 2003 for programmes specifically designed to tackle educational disadvantage in accordance with the strategies outlined in the National Action Plan for social inclusion and in Sustaining Progress.