Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011
372 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the rural development and RAPID programmes are being specifically identified; and the information available to him to indicate that they are experiencing high structural unemployment. [31212/11]
View answerThe Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) represents a substantial investment in rural areas and plays a significant role in sustaining and creating rural employment. Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the RDP, for which my Department has responsibility, continue to facilitate access to significant financial resources for rural communities. The main objectives of the RDP are to improve the quality of life in rural areas and facilitate the diversification of the rural economy. The RDP is designed to address directly many of the challenges facing rural communities including the need to increase economic activity and stimulate job creation; improve access to basic services for rural dwellers and encourage rural tourism based on sustainable development of natural resources. The programme is inclusive in its approach to arriving at solutions to such challenges using a "bottom up method" where local communities provide local solutions.
Enterprise supports have played a distinct role in successive programmes facilitating rural development in Ireland, including the current and previous LEADER elements of such programmes. The current programme includes significant allocations directly for the creation and development of business ideas (€45.3m) as well as specific support for farm families to facilitate diversification into non-agricultural activities (€15.6m). There is also a specific measure for tourism initiatives which can and does include support for tourism related business ideas (€42.8m).
Along with the direct support for enterprise generation and development available through the RDP the programme also provides substantial support for community led initiatives to address issues such as social cohesion and small infrastructural deficits particularly in the context of the promotion of tourism in rural areas. For example the programme supports the establishment and/or renovation of community facilities and the improvement of public amenities in tourist areas, as well as supporting the provision of niche training in adapted and new skills for rural dwellers and communities.
The RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Programme aims to improve quality of life for residents living in 51 designated disadvantaged areas through the improved planning and co-ordination of state services and through the delivery of new investment in services and facilities. The Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within these areas, through targeting of State resources. These services/projects are implemented through prioritisation of national and local agency funding streams and more effective co-ordination of services at a local level. It is a matter for each individual Department to respond to issues of funding within its area of responsibility, including in relation to unemployment. The RAPID leverage schemes were initiated in 2004 in order to support small-scale projects identified locally in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by relevant State agencies and support projects focusing on estate enhancement, graffiti clean-up, traffic calming, CCTV, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds.
