Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
129 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in regard to the implementation of the RAPID programme for Athy; the amount of moneys made available for the implementation of the programme from her Department for Athy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33701/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy has generally been that RAPID is to be funded through the prioritisation of the identified areas and the front loading to them of a significant share of the funding allocated under the national development plan. The Department of Health and Children, in the letters of determination in 2003 and 2004, requested health boards to prioritise projects in RAPID areas, within available resources.
This is the first year in which designated funding for RAPID became available. In the context of the RAPID leverage fund, the Department of Health and Children is making €2 million available, over the period 2004-05, to match €2 million being provided by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from that fund for projects in the health sector. Effectively, this means that €120,000 is available under this fund for each RAPID strand 1 area, urban areas, and €80,000 for each RAPID strand 2 area, Athy falls within this category.
A request for proposals for funding under the RAPID leverage fund was issued by my Department in July 2004, to all health boards-authority. Project proposals, including projects for the Athy area, have been received in response to this from health boards across the country. These have been processed within the Department of Health and Children and submitted for further approval to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
