Vol. 547 No. 1
1042 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the aims and objectives of RAPID; the progress which has been made in relation to the Darndale, Belcamp and Bunratty Road areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1347/02]
As the Deputy will be aware, the RAPID programme is a focused initiative by the Government to target the 25 most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the country. The programme will ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the designated areas through targeting State resources available under the national development plan. The programme also seeks to build on the experience gained through a range of other initiatives, including the integrated services process, by facilitating closer co-ordination and better integration in the delivery of local services, thereby ensuring the best possible use of existing resources to bring about real and practical improvements for local communities.
