Vol. 557 No. 4
436 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the moneys avail able in his Department for the RAPID programme; the requests he has received for funding of the RAPID programme; the funding which has been granted to the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22673/02]
The RAPID, revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Departments and State agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense.
The RAPID programme has selected 25 target areas in cities and towns and, in addition, 20 towns for priority investment and frontloading of funding under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, NDP. No dedicated departmental financial allocations have been established to provide potential funding for RAPID proposals as such. However, my Department decides on approving funding for RAPID proposals within the context of existing allocations across Votes under my Department's remit. Particular priority is given to RAPID proposals which fall within the functional areas financed by the NDP.
To date this Department has received 47 RAPID proposals. Examples of the type of proposals received by the Department under RAPID are childcare projects, Garda youth diversion projects, proposals for CCTV schemes, proposals, such as the deployment of gardaí, which would be a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide on and probation and welfare projects.
I regret to inform the Deputy that in the time available it has not been possible to provide information on the funding which has been approved by the Department under the RAPID programme. However, I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
