Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
235 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [28383/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe RAPID, revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Departments and State agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense.
The RAPID programme selected 45 target areas in cities and towns for priority investment and frontloading of funding under the National Development Plan 2000 — 2006, NDP. No dedicated departmental financial allocations have been established to provide potential funding for RAPID proposals as such. However, my Department decides on approving funding for RAPID proposals within the context of existing allocations across Votes under my Department's remit. Particular priority is given to RAPID proposals which fall within the functional areas financed by the NDP.
Information on the funding provided by my Department under the RAPID programme is as follows. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 under the NDP has contributed significantly to the provision of child care in RAPID areas. The funding committed under the equal opportunities child care programme includes the provision of more than €45 million in funding to child care services operating in RAPID areas, and of this an amount of approximately €18 million has been allocated to proposals submitted directly through the RAPID programme. These supports include the development of new child care places, supports towards the staffing costs of services and supports to organisations which support the quality ethos in Irish child care, which would impact on many of the services located in RAPID areas. As a programme which receives substantial funding from the European Social Fund, the equal opportunities child care programme has a focus on labour market participation and on breaking the cycle of disadvantage through employment or education and training in preparation for employment.
Funding of €3.3 million, under the NDP, has been allocated by my Department under phase 1 of the equality for women measure to 18 projects located in or adjacent to RAPID areas. Phase II of the measure will fund a number of strands of activity including one strand focused on women living in communities which face particular economic disadvantage. Under the RAPID strand, €7 million has been earmarked to fund projects which address the needs of women living in designated RAPID areas. The closing date for applications under this strand was 15 October 2004 and these applications are in the process of being evaluated. My Department expects that the initial drawdown of grants will occur early next year.
Since the commencement of the RAPID programme capital funding of €355,165 has been allocated by my Department in respect of proposals submitted through the RAPID programme for two probation and welfare projects. In addition, current funding of just over €7 million has been allocated by my Department in 2004 to 36 probation and welfare projects located in or adjacent to RAPID areas.
Garda youth diversion projects are community based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people from becoming involved — or further involved — in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve prospects of employability. My Department currently funds 64 Garda youth diversion projects and seven mainstream local drugs task force projects. The funding allocation for the projects for 2004 is €5.318 million. A total of 51 of these projects are located in 32 of the 45 RAPID areas. Expenditure on the projects to date in 2004 in RAPID areas amounts to approximately €3.2 million.
As part of the RAPID programme the Garda Síochána has also allocated a number of community gardaí to specific RAPID areas, initiated new neighbourhood watch schemes and assisted in the provision of a community bus.
