Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The RAPID programme aims to ensure priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 45 designated RAPID areas. In addition, RAPID priority status was recently extended to Ballyfermot. My Department, with the support of Pobal, has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the RAPID programme. As I indicated in my response to Question No. 41 of 14 June 2006, it is a matter for each Department to respond to the recommendations in the report in respect of their specific areas of responsibility.

It is important to note the report indicates that, in general, the experience of the RAPID programme has been positive. The report found that the programme has made substantial progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities and in implementing important local projects in response to locally identified needs. A number of weaknesses in the delivery of the programme were identified, pertaining to strategic planning, limited implementation of the programme in a small number of areas, the interaction of some State agencies in some areas and difficulties in identifying sources of funding for some projects.

The report recommends enhanced monitoring structures, the adoption of annual work programmes and improved corporate and business planning in agencies to prioritise RAPID areas for investment. I have initiated a process to implement these recommendations. My aim is to address the identified weaknesses by working with the various stakeholders at national and local level.

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