Community Development.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004

Tuesday, 27 April 2004

Questions (114)

Seymour Crawford

Question:

168 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a commitment to have towns and areas like Clones and Castleblayney, which suffered so much from the 35 years of troubles and depopulation in the Border area to be re-examined and included in either the RAPID or CLÁR programme or both; his views on whether without this categorisation, it will be difficult to obtain sufficient funding for the re-opening and restoration of courthouse and other facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11859/04]

Written answers

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

The 45 RAPID areas were selected on the basis of objective criteria and neither Clones nor Castleblaney were among the areas identified. There are no plans at present to increase the number of RAPID areas.

As regards CLÁR, An Agreed Programme for Government contained a commitment to annual funding for the CLÁR programme and to consider additional areas for inclusion in light of the 2002 population census data. The Government decided on the additional areas for inclusion in the CLÁR programme and I announced these on 17 January 2003. Areas in 18 counties, including the six Border counties, are now included in the programme. There are no plans at present for any further review of the boundary of CLÁR areas.