Brian O'Shea
Ceist:178 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date in each of the RAPID areas; the amount spent in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11253/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Programmes.
The role of my Department is to co-ordinate the implementation of the RAPID programme assisted by Area Development Management Ltd. Under strands I and II of the RAPID programme, an area implementation team was established in each of the 45 areas to develop a plan for their area. The plans for both strands have been completed and proposals forwarded to the relevant Departments for consideration.
It is a matter for each of the other Departments to report on the implementation of the programme that falls within the remit of their Department. As regards my own Department, proposals from the RAPID plans fall to be considered under the young peoples facilities and services fund or YPFSF, the community development programme or CDP and funding for local drugs task forces. In the case of proposals relevant to the YPFSF, proposals submitted under the RAPID plans will be considered in the context of decisions to be made under round II and in light of the overall funding position for 2003.
A number of proposals in RAPID plans relate to the community development programme. Allocations of funding to six new community development projects in RAPID areas were announced recently. Projects in Bluebell, Dolphin House, Inchicore, Merchants Quay/Ushers Quay, Longford Town and Tipperary each received a renewable one year contract for funding of €60,000. In addition, core funding was provided under the CDP to St. Munchin's CDP – £100,000 or €127,000 was provided to the building project in 2001 and €25,000 was paid to St. Munchin's in 2002 towards equipping the centre. An amount of €1 million was also allocated under the premises initiative to a local drugs task force project in Tallaght.
The Deputy should note that my Department has provided €2.2 million to the area implementation teams to support the local areas in the preparation and implementation of their plans.