The RAPID programme initiative seeks to frontload and prioritise in the most disadvantaged areas in the country, investment already indicated under the national development plan. Forty-five areas are included in the programme; Strand I of RAPID relates to 25 urban areas and Strand II to 20 provincial towns.
Apart from expenditure on projects, my Department supports the RAPID programme in a number of ways, including the funding of local co-ordinators for each RAPID area, co-ordination of the programme across the Department and ongoing consultation with senior management in the local authorities concerned. In addition, public agencies, including local authorities, are already providing a wide range of services in all RAPID areas. My Department provides funding to local authorities for many of these services.
Two RAPID projects for Athy were submitted to my Department by the local area implementation team. Details, as available, regarding progress on implementation of these projects is set out in the following table.