Vol. 557 No. 4
145 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the moneys available in her Department for RAPID programmes; the requests she has received for funding of RAPID programmes; the funding which has been granted to RAPID programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22663/02]
My Department's contribution to the RAPID programme has been delivered mainly through the prioritisation of existing FÁS programmes funded from the 2002 budget. Support provided by FÁS has been through FÁS community services where the community employment programme is the major element, where RAPID areas continue to be prioritised – FÁS employment services, the local employment service and FÁS training services. Under strand one of the programme requests for funding to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment amounted to €6.9 million in respect of a total of 60 project proposals. Of these requests, 47 have been or are currently being fully implemented from existing FÁS resources. Lead responsibility for the remaining 13 projects will be clarified as soon as possible.
