Vol. 571 No. 4
528 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress towards achieving the aims of the RAPID programme in the Tallaght west estates; the contacts he is maintaining in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21970/03]
My Department supported by ADM Limited, co-ordinates the implementation of the RAPID programme. Plans have been prepared for each of the 45 RAPID areas and proposals from these plans have been forwarded by ADM Limited to the relevant Department for consideration. It is a matter for each of the other Departments to report on the implementation of the programme in relation to proposals that fall within the remit of their Department. I am in a position to comment only in relation to proposals from RAPID plans that fall under the remit of my Department.
Of the plans that have been prepared for the three RAPID areas in Tallaght, five project proposals were submitted to my Department for consideration. These five projects comprised the addiction response project in Killinarden, two proposals relating to funding for drugs rehabilitation and prevention projects and two proposals that are relevant to the young people's facilities and services fund. A sum of €1 million has been allocated to the project in Killinarden under the premises initiative and these premises are now open.
529 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if resources will be provided for the establishment of a community development programme in Dingle, County Kerry; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is needed in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22272/03]
530 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the current number of community development programmes in County Kerry; their names and locations; if his Department has received applications from County Kerry in the past two years for funding for the establishment of CDPs; if so, if these applications have been considered; the outcome of those considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22273/03]
I propose to take Question Nos. 529 and 530 together.
The community development programme was established in 1990 in order to develop a network of projects in communities experiencing economic and social disadvantage. Notwithstanding the current economic climate, this objective has been largely achieved with 175 projects established nationwide and a further 15 projects, currently at pre-development stage, scheduled to come on stream in 2004, subject to resource availability. Any future decisions relating to the programme will be informed both by the outcome of the review of all schemes under my Department's remit, which is ongoing, and future resource availability.
My Department supports a total of five projects in the Kerry area under the community development support programmes. In 2002 two applications were received from Kerry based groups seeking inclusion in the CDSPs, one of which is based in Dingle, and the other in Annascaul. In the case of the Annascaul group, further information was requested in order to inform the application. No subsequent correspondence was received. Given the tighter financial situation currently pertaining the Dingle based group were informed last May that it would not be possible to progress its application further. The priority this year is to focus available resources on existing commitments to established projects and to those projects already approved for entry to the programme.
531 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the current status of community development programmes in his Department; the resources which have been expended on them since June 2002; the resources in place for them for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22274/03]
To date over €27 million has been invested in the CDSPs since my Department was established in June 2002. The total budget for its administration in 2003 is some €21.3 million.
A total of 175 community development projects are currently receiving funding under the programme, of which 15 pre-development projects came on stream in September.
532 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the efforts that will be made to maximise the role of volunteers in communities and put adequate support structures in place as a result of reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22287/03]
My Department supports a range of structures and programmes that recognise the important role of volunteers in the area of community development. These include: provision for the participation of community volunteers on the boards or other governance structures of partnerships, CDPs, Leader groups, RAPID area implementation teams; and funding of measures to address, through voluntary activities, a range of challenges facing communities, including disadvantage and social exclusion.
The national committee on volunteering has reported on a range of volunteering issues, including ways in which volunteering can be recognised, encouraged and supported by the State. Its is extremely detailed and comprehensive. The process of examination and consideration of its recommendations, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is continuing in my Department.
