Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
219 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [28381/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraProposals from RAPID plans relevant to my Department fall to be considered under the community development programme, funding for local drugs task forces, LDTF, and the young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF. Six new community development projects in RAPID areas were prioritised since the commencement of the programme. 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. Approximately €3.6 million was allocated to specific projects from RAPID plans from funding available to my Department for local drugs task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF. A further amount of €1 million was also allocated under the premises initiative for a community drugs project.
However, it should be noted that the allocations relate only to allocations to specific projects from RAPID plans. My Department also has responsibility for the work of the 14 local drugs task forces. These were established in the areas experiencing the worst levels of drug misuse, particularly heroin, and many of them have RAPID areas within them. Over €80 million has been allocated to the task forces to implement their two rounds of local action plans. A further €12.8 million has been allocated to capital projects under the LDTF premises initiative, which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community-based drugs projects.
In addition, approximately €75 million has been allocated to support the work of the young people's facilities and services fund in LDTF areas and four other urban centres. The main aim of the fund is to attract at risk young people in disadvantaged areas into recreational facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance misuse. RAPID communities located in these areas would benefit from this funding.
There are also currently over 100 CDP projects in RAPID areas that are receiving in excess of €9 million funding from my Department in 2004. Money is also spent under the LDSIP programme in RAPID. As the borders of the partnership are not coterminous with those of the RAPID area, it would be impossible to quantify the exact spend in RAPID areas.
This year, I secured additional dedicated funding of €4.5 million to support small-scale localised actions in RAPID areas through co-funding with the relevant Department or agency and I announced details of a number of co-funded schemes earlier this year. Funding totalling €2 million was allocated to RAPID areas under the local authority housing estate enhancement scheme, which is co-funded by my Department and the local authorities. Under the RAPID playgrounds scheme, which my Department co-funds with the Department of Health and Children, a total of €3 million was allocated to RAPID areas. In addition, my Department has provided top-up funding of €2.2 million to successful projects in RAPID areas that were endorsed by the area implementation teams under the sports capital programme 2004, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
The Deputy should also note that since the establishment of the RAPID programme, my Department has provided approximately €5 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.
