Vol. 571 No. 2
322 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the development which has taken place in the RAPID initiative in the most disadvantaged communities as a priority programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21352/03]
Plans have been prepared for each of the 45 RAPID areas and proposals from these plans have been forwarded by ADM Limited to relevant Government Departments for consideration.
I am in a position to comment only in relation to proposals from RAPID plans that under the remit of my Department. Such proposals fall to be considered under the young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF, the community development programme, 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 2004.
A number of proposals in RAPID plans relate to the community development programme, CDP. Allocations of funding to six new community development projects in RAPID areas were announced earlier this year. 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, in 2001 core funding was provided under the CDP to St. Munchin's CDP – £100,000, or €127,000, was provided to the building project 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.
In addition, the Deputy should note that since the establishment of the RAPID programme, my Department has provided approximately €3 million by way of support to the local areas in the preparation and implementation of their plans and administration costs associated with the support team in ADM.
