Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Programmes.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

429 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the moneys which have been expended in his Department by area and projects to date, under the RAPID and CLÁR programmes. [25855/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The RAPID programme is a focused initiative to frontload and prioritise investment already indicated under the national development plan in the most disadvantaged areas in the country, 45 areas have been included in the programme. Strand one of RAPID relates to 25 urban areas and strand two to 20 provincial towns.

There are a number of measures in place in my Department to support the programme, including the funding of the local co-ordinators for each RAPID area, managing the co-ordination of the programme across the Department and ongoing consultation with senior management in the local authorities concerned.

My Department is currently examining projects under both strands of the programme which have been received from the local area implementation teams. The proposals for strand one mainly relate to social housing, local road improvement measures and environmental issues which are delivered on the ground by local authorities. The nature and scale of many of these projects, some of which are subject to detailed design and will require phased implementation, has necessitated extensive evaluation as well as consultation with local authorities and the Area Development Management Limited RAPID support team. This evaluation and consultation process is ongoing with a view to progressing matters in so far as possible, in the context of the estimates provisions for 2003 and onwards. In the circumstances, the information as sought in the question would be premature for the generality of projects at this stage. However, approval in principle has been given to the funding of a limited number of projects which are in a position to proceed; details, as available, are set out in the following table.

Plans for strand two areas i.e. provincial towns have just been received in my Department and are currently being examined. In addition to RAPID projects, public agencies, including local authorities, are already providing a wide range of services in all RAPID areas. A fund of €22.2 million has been provided for the CLÁR programme for the period 2002-03. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is solely responsible for determining which schemes and projects qualify for CLÁR assistance. My Department provides co-funding for certain CLÁR projects in areas such as small public water and sewerage schemes, group schemes and non-national roads.

RAPID Projects

RAPID Area	Project No.	Subject	Position
Cork (Blackpool-The Glen-Mayfield)	CKBG 08	Waste and Recycling – Bring Facilities	Approved for grant assistance under the Waste Management Capital Grants Scheme.
Cork (Blackpool-The Glen-Mayfield)	CKBG 11	Estate Management Mediation Service	Funding of €42,500 in total approved for this, together with projects CKFG 17 and CKTM 28
Cork (Blackpool-The Glen-Mayfield)	CKBG 18	Provision of Optical Scanner	D/ELG expects to be in a position to issue approval to library authorities, for the purchase of optical scanning equipment, early in 2003.
Cork (Fairhill-Gurrane – braher-Farranree)	CKFG 17	Estate Management Mediation Service	Funding of €42,500 in total approved for this, together with projects CKFG 11 and CKTM 28
Cork (Fairhill-Gurrane – braher-Farranree)	CKFG 51	Civic Amenity Site – northside	Funding of up to €424,000 approved for a site in Blackpool to service north Cork City Area, under the Waste Management Capital Grants Scheme.
Cork (Fairhill-Gurrane – braher-Farranree)	CKFG 53	Improved availability of Bring Site	Approved for grant assistance under the Waste Management Capital Grants Scheme.
Cork (Knocknaheeney-Churchfield)	CKKC 07c	Cork City Council Area Housing Office	Office fully staffed & opened for business 02/10/02 - approved funding paid
Cork (Togher-Mahon)	CKTM 04	Togher Community Services Centre	Funding approved in principle for crèche. Design proposals awaited.
Cork (Togher-Mahon)	CKTM 28	Estate Management Mediation Services	Funding of €42,500 in total approved for this, together with projects CKFG 11 and CKTM 17
Cork (Blackpool-The Glen-Mayfield)	CKBG 48	Waste Management and Recycling	Approved for grant assistance
Dublin City (Ballymun)	DUB BAL SOC/01	Social Supports Initiative	Funding of €65,047 approved.
Dublin City (Northeast Inner City)	DUB NEIC 1	Improvements – flat complexes	D/ELG is currently funding redevelopment work to a number of flat complexes in the inner city involving part demolition, new build and regeneration.
Drogheda	LTH DRO 08	Estate Management Training (residents), Home Management Training (homemakers), Environmental Awareness involving schools-youth and community, House Maintenance Course	Housing Management Initiative grant approved. Estate Management Officer appointed, Oct '02.
South Dublin (Clondalkin)	SDCLON 17	Environmental Improvements Programme – Establish and maintain a Recycling Centre (6 bottle and can banks)	Provision of 13 Bring Centres in South Dublin Co Council area approved under the Waste Management Capital Grants Scheme.
Bray	WKBRAY 003	Estate Management Development Officer for Bray	Funding for appointment of an Estate Development Officer and tenants-staff training approved
Bray	WKBRAY 004	Audit of Housing Stock owned by Bray Town Council	Funding approved in July 2002.
Bray	WKBRAY 005	Audit of Housing Stock owned by Wicklow County Council	Project WKBRAY004 (above) has recently been extended to include dwellings owned by Wicklow Co Council in the Bray RAPID area.