I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 395 together.
The proposals to put a programme in place which would target support and investment to the most deprived 25 areas in the State was discussed and approved by the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion in December 2000. The programme, known as RAPID, Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development, was launched on 8 February 2001. The designation of the 25 most deprived areas in the State, to be the target of support under the RAPID Programme has been agreed by Government on the basis of clear and objective criteria.
Underpinning this designation is the Trutz-Haase index, an independent analysis of the relative levels of deprivation, which used 11 broad variables drawn from the 1996 census of population and involved 75 separate items of data per DED. To limit the selection to the 25 most deprived areas, it was necessary to confine the list to those DEDs which fell within the category of "the most deprived 5% of DEDs in the State" in accordance with this index. The DEDs thus identified were suitably clustered and the boundaries adjusted to include neighbourhoods of local authority housing in which in excess of 75% of housing stock is rented.
The delivery mechanism provides for an extensive level of community participation. A budget has been allocated for implementation. Any requests to extend the designation beyond that agreed by Government would involve a change in the designation process, an easing in criteria, and a requirement that access to the programme should be provided to all other areas of similar economic and social standing. As this approach would have serious implications for the current strong focus of the programme on areas of the greatest disadvantage, I do not propose to make any amendments to the boundaries of the areas selected. The social partners, including the community and voluntary pillar, which were involved in the devising of the programme, have welcomed the RAPID programme and have indicated their support for it.
