Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

A Chathaoirligh, I thank you for allowing me to raise this matter and I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House.

I wish to speak about the proposed changes to the RAPID areas in Cork city, which will have specific implications in Ballyphehane and Togher. RAPID has been of great benefit to these areas and has delivered a great enhancement of public services and of the public realm. Through an integrated and co-ordinated approach, it has provided communities with a great opportunity to participate in the strategic improvement of their areas.

The Minister has announced that he will change the boundaries for Ballyphehane and Togher. I welcome the inclusion of Ballyphehane in the RAPID area, but we must not end up in a situation where the restructured areas are cut back, and that half of Ballyphehane and Togher are not included. The whole area must be included. There have been great achievements in Ballyphehane and Togher through active engagement with local networks, and through the shared delivery by community participation in programmes with Cork City Council, with educational establishments and with the RAPID team. The Ballyphehane and Togher community development programme has pioneered innovative development work with older people, women, young people and many groups within the area in schemes like social health and active community involvement. This service delivery is important to the community of Ballyphehane and Togher. The communities have a track record of delivery and of participation.

I am worried that the Minister has decided to exclude areas in Ballyphehane that include the Ballyphehane GAA club. I have a map that outlines the decisions the Minister made for the scheme. I am hoping he will include the area around Ballyphehane Green, which includes the GAA club.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, delivered a letter to the area entitled "Reinvestment and Funding Opportunities for Togher and Ballyphehane", and he states "I am delighted to inform you that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon Ó Cuív, has announced the expansion of the current RAPID boundaries to include additional areas in Ballyphehane and Togher". That is fine for the Minister and the Government to do that, but as an elected representative and as a former member of the RAPID area who has worked with Mr. McGann and Ms Cogan Williamson, I wrote to the Minister about the proposed extension of the scheme, but got no reply.

We must continue to empower people through RAPID. It is not all about funding. It is about giving people the ability to participate in their own area. That has happened, but the area around the GAA club, comprising Hillview Estate, Connolly Road and the green, must be included in the RAPID area. I am also worried that we are taking out part of rural Togher, which is still in need of a RAPID designation. I appeal to the Minister to go back to include Hillview Estate, Connolly Road and the green in which Ballyphehane GAA club is housed, and to look at the possibility of keeping the Togher rural area in the scheme.