Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The programme will be announced at the end of the month and the information will be made available. I am not hiding information and I have no problem with any of the information going out for any scheme. I can give some figures on the urban and rural parts of the RAPID scheme. We had €5 million last year and €2.5 million was ring-fenced for the Dublin north inner city. If ever an area needed such support, it was there. Other areas in Dublin and bigger cities around the country also need such support. The other €2 million was divided by allocating €64,500 to 31 local authorities. The Deputy mentioned local community development committees, LCDCs, and asked if they will target the areas that need it most. I hope they will and we will have to monitor them to ensure the funding is going where it is supposed to. The RAPID programme is there to deal with areas that need to be dealt with. When we announce the scheme, we will highlight this to the local authorities.

I realise what the Deputy is saying about LCDCs. It is supposed to be more democratic and there are more community groups involved. These people are on the ground and are supposed to know what is happening. It is way it is being done and if we need to look at the scheme again, we will have to do it. The most important accomplishment at the end of last year was to get out the €5 million as the scheme had not been announced for a while. I was pleased to be able to get the €5 million out. As I said in the Dáil, I visited Dublin's inner city and the projects I saw there are a credit to people on the ground. They targeted new communities and people suffering real disadvantage. They gave young children an opportunity when it comes to reading and writing, as well as preschool activities, and it provided help and support.

I would like to have more money for the RAPID programme and be able to target more areas but I must live within budget. We will go at that process again soon. I would like to see more money going to disadvantaged areas in particular. The Deputy is quite correct in that it affects urban and rural areas. There are areas in the country that need more support, help and funding. I must ensure that the funding is targeted and I will try to ensure the local authorities put that money into areas at most disadvantage.