Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2005
333 Mr. Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which a group or organisation based in a town with RAPID classification applying for grant funding will be prioritised by her Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17864/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware my Department, supported by Area Development Management, ADM, Limited is responsible for co-ordinating the RAPID programme. The manner in which applications from RAPID areas are treated in my Department varies depending on the funding stream.
A dedicated fund of €7.5 million is provided in my Department's Vote in 2005 to co-fund small-scale proposals from RAPID plans with other Departments or local agencies. This fund is aimed exclusively at RAPID areas.
In addition, special provision was made for RAPID areas under the dormant accounts plan. Under the current round of funding €60 million is being allocated by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, of which a minimum of 52% is being targeted for RAPID, CLÁR and drugs task force areas.
RAPID areas are also included in the areas that are funded under the local drugs task force and young people's facilities and services fund. Therefore funding allocated under these measures, by their nature, support RAPID areas and groups.
Funding under the programme of grants for locally based community and voluntary organisations operated by my Department supports the activities of local voluntary and community groups which address disadvantage in their communities. While this is not specifically aimed at RAPID areas, projects from RAPID areas benefit from this funding.
In the most recent and final expansion phase of the community development programme, priority was given to the inclusion of projects that were based in RAPID and CLÁR areas. Fifteen such projects were included in the community development programme in 2003. If the Deputy has a particular group or organisation in mind and he contacts my Department, more precise information will be supplied.
