Vol. 561 No. 4
470 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the growing frustration and disenchantment of community representatives in the Tallaght area, many of whom have clocked up over 2,000 hours in meetings relating to the RAPID programme (Strand 1), at the failure of meaningful projects being approved in areas of extreme disadvantage; and the progress on large, medium or small projects. [4775/03]
Last Tuesday I met a large number of community representatives in Fettercairn, Tallaght. At the meeting – at which the Deputy was present – I was made aware of their views of the RAPID programme and the time and commitment they have invested in it to date.
Under the programme each area implementation team prepared a plan for their area. These plans contained a wide range of proposals with very varied timescales and costs. My Department's role, supported by Area Development Management Limited, is to co-ordinate the implementation of the programme. It is a matter for Departments to report on progress in relation to implementing RAPID proposals that fall within the remit of their areas.
It is important at this stage to restate that the Government remains committed to the RAPID programme and its implementation. My officials have had a number of bilateral meetings with other relevant Departments in recent months to advance its implementation. I hope to meet my ministerial colleagues in other Departments in the coming weeks to discuss a number of options as to how the plans might be further advanced.
