Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
182 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of funding which has been allocated to the RAPID scheme from his Department’s budget since the commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28377/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no specific funding available in my Department for distribution under the revitalising areas through planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme. Targeted areas are, however, prioritised for investment and development under the national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department. The programme allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities.
One of the programme's four stated main objectives is the prioritisation of the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. Prior to 2003, disadvantaged areas under the programme were those, which were designated by Government for special support through the regional operational programmes of the national development plan, that is, areas supported by area partnership companies as designated by Area Development Management, ADM, Limited. RAPID areas came within this definition but were not classified or designated separately for the sports capital programme.
For the 2003 sports capital programme, following consultation with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, it was decided disadvantaged areas under the programme would be those designated by Government for special support through the schemes administered by the Department, namely RAPID 1, RAPID 2, local drugs task force areas and CLÁR. Applications located in such areas received priority in the assessment process, provided that they met the basic eligibility criteria for the programme as highlighted in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. Applications from RAPID areas which were eligible for assessment and which were endorsed by their local area implementation team, AIT, received greater priority in the assessment than other applications, even other disadvantaged ones.
A total of €7.6 million was allocated to 71 projects located in RAPID areas under the 2003 sports capital programme, while, under the 2004 programme, for which the same disadvantaged designation was used, a total of €10.5 million was allocated to 100 projects. In addition, under the 2004 sports capital programme, those projects allocated grants which were located in RAPID areas and endorsed by their AIT received additional top-up funding from my colleague the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, amounting to €2.2 million. The improved targeting of RAPID projects under the sports capital programme is regularly praised by the RAPID national monitoring committee.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is also administered by my Department, the funding allocated to swimming pool projects located in RAPID areas since the inception of the RAPID programme in 2001 is as follows:
|
€ |
|
|
Ballinasloe |
3,809,214 |
|
Ballymun, Dublin |
3,809,214 |
|
Churchfield, Cork City |
3,809,214 |
|
Drogheda |
3,809,214 |
|
Finglas, Dublin |
3,809,214 |
|
Tralee Aquadome |
86,400 |
|
Tralee Sports Centre |
3,809,214 |
|
Clonmel |
1,641,934 |
|
Tuam |
3,809,214 |
|
Youghal |
3,809,214 |
|
Total paid to date |
32,202,046 |
