Vol. 557 No. 4
496 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the moneys available in her Department for the RAPID programme; the requests she has received for funding of the RAPID programme; the funding which has been granted to the RAPID programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22676/02]
The RAPID programme operates under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. It is, however, a cross-Department initiative and, while there is no specific funding provided for RAPID projects in my Department, moneys are available through the family services project under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, employment support services under the special projects fund and through the family resource centre programme, which can be applied in RAPID areas.
To date, my Department has received a total of 15 requests for funding from nine RAPID areas, and payments totalling of €170,900 to support these initiatives have been allocated or opposed. My Department is represented in the implementation and monitoring committees of the RAPID programme as part of its role in relation to priority and social exclusion. In line with the RAPID programme's objective of using existing structures and resources to progress its aims, the resources available under the services already outlined will continue to form the basis of my Department's contribution to supporting the programme.
