Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy is aware, my Department, supported by Area Development Management, ADM, Limited, co-ordinates the implementation of the RAPID programme. It is, therefore, a matter for each Department to report on progress on the implementation of RAPID and details of funding allocations to the projects that fall within the remit of their Department.

However, Departments were asked recently to track funding against specific projects submitted in RAPID plans from each area. While this exercise is still under way, I am informed by ADM that Departments have to date reported a spend in the order of €300 million in RAPID areas since the inception of the programme. It should be noted that this amount relates solely to specific projects in RAPID plans and does not include funding for RAPID areas by Departments, which are in addition to the RAPID plans.

Despite a slow start the RAPID programme is now making a valuable contribution in disadvantaged communities. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, tackling disadvantage will require long-term commitment by Government and in this regard I believe that the RAPID programme should continue beyond 2006.

The programme is progressing on a number of levels in tandem and clearly the benefits at local level are becoming evident. In the first instance, many small-scale proposals from RAPID plans are being dealt with more effectively at local level. A dedicated fund of €7.5 million has been put in place in 2005 to support small-scale capital projects, through co-funding with other Departments or local agencies as appropriate. I have announced a number of co-funded schemes this year.

Further funding has been allocated to two schemes that operated in 2004. Total funding of €4.5 million is available over two years —2005-06 — for the local authority housing estate enhancement scheme, which is co-funded with local authorities through the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Small-scale capital works to enhance the physical environment within local authority housing estates and flat complexes are supported under this scheme. The RAPID playgrounds scheme, which provides funding for the development or refurbishment of playgrounds has also been launched again this year, with total funding of €3 million being provided by my Department and the Department of Health and Children through the Health Service Executive.

This year I announced a new traffic measures scheme for RAPID areas with total funding of €2.025 million. This scheme is being co-funded with local authorities and will support small-scale capital works to improve road safety in RAPID areas.

Total funding of €4.6 million is being made available by my Department and the Department of Health and Children through the Health Service Executive on a 50:50 basis to support a range of health and community projects in RAPID areas.

My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, recently invited applications for funding under the community based CCTV scheme. My Department will provide funding in addition to resources allocated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to successful applications from RAPID areas that are endorsed by the area implementation teams. A number of other co-funded measures are under consideration and I expect to make further announcements on this matter.

As regards the larger projects from RAPID plans that have been submitted to Departments, these will continue to be considered for funding within existing funding streams in each Department. However, I expect that Departments will deal with a smaller number of projects and will therefore be in a better position to prioritise projects and set out timescales for further actions.

Work on improving integration and co-ordination of service delivery at local level will also continue as this is a key component of the RAPID programme.

Special provision was made by the Government for RAPID areas under the dormant accounts plan. RAPID areas have benefited from 57.5% of the €56.2 million in funding allocated to date.

Discussions are ongoing with Departments regarding prioritisation of other non-capital actions included in the AIT plans.

As the Deputy is aware, the RAPID programme is running in conjunction with the National Development Plan 2000-2006. While no formal decisions have been taken on the lifetime of the RAPID programme, the indications are that it will continue post-2006.

See this speech in context