Under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the Government is committed to targeting investment under the national development plan on a priority basis to the 25 most disadvantaged areas in the State. To ensure a fair and transparent process the selection of these 25 areas was made on strictly objective criteria, using the established Trutz-Haase index of deprivation. DEDs which were categorised by this index as constituting the most acutely deprived areas in the State, that is the 5% most deprived DEDs in the country, were identified for designation. These areas, where suitably clustered and in some cases extended to include adjoining areas of local authority housing, in which at least 75% of the stock was held on a tenant basis, were designated as the 25 RAPID programme areas.
At present, arrangements are being made for the recruitment of local co-ordinators for each of these areas, who will be responsible for putting the RAPID programme into operation. An area plan will be drawn up to assess the need for investment, supports or services in each area and funds committed under the NDP will be channelled by the appropriate service providers to the areas on the basis of this plan. This Government has earmarked a total sum of £15 billion in the national development plan to tackle problems of social exclusion in urban, provincial and rural Ireland and I believe that through these many initiatives, including the RAPID programme, steady progress will be made.
