Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
161 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress to date in regard to the implementation of the RAPID programme for Athy; the amount of moneys made available for the implementation of the programme from his Department for Athy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33702/04]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the revitalising areas through planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme aims to target the most disadvantaged areas of the country for enhanced development. No additional funding has been set aside for the programme but rather these areas are prioritised for support within existing budgets. The main programmes operated by my Department where a particular focus exists on RAPID areas are the national lottery funded sports capital programme and the local authority swimming pool programme.
One of the stated main objectives of the sports capital programme is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. The programme is run on an annual basis and allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country.
Since the 2003 sports capital programme, following consultation with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, disadvantaged areas are those that have been designated by Government for special support through the schemes administered by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, namely, RAPID 1 and 2, local drugs task force areas and CLÁR areas. Athy is one of 20 urban locations covered under the RAPID 2 programme.
Under the 2004 sports capital programme, three applications located in the RAPID area of Athy applied for funding and all three were successful. On account of a grant having been awarded under the sports capital programme and as the projects were also endorsed by their local RAPID area implementation team, further top-up funding was also allocated to the projects by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Details of the overall funding are as follows:
|
Grantee |
Amount Sought |
Total Allocation |
SCP Allocation |
RAPID top-up |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Athy Town |
32,000 |
31,200 |
25,000 |
6,200 |
|
Clonmullion FC |
160,000 |
160,000 |
140,000 |
20,000 |
|
St. Michael’s Boxing Club |
314,000 |
314,000 |
250,000 |
64,000 |
None of the projects above has yet progressed to the point of drawing down the funding allocated.
It is open to sports clubs and community organisations in Athy, should they wish to do so and should they have projects which satisfy the terms and conditions of the programme, to submit applications to the 2005 sports capital programme. This programme was publicly advertised on 5 and 6 December last and the closing date for the receipt of completed application forms is Friday, 4 February 2004. Projects which meet the basic qualifying conditions and are located in RAPID areas will again be prioritised under this programme.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, projects which are developed in areas designated as disadvantaged, qualify for financial support at 90% of the eligible cost of the project subject to a maximum grant of €3.8 million. Contract documents submitted by Kildare County Council for the Athy swimming pool project are currently under consideration in my Department. Grants for swimming pools are not approved until a tender for the project has been approved.
