Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if an analysis or evaluation has been undertaken by his officials in relation to the impact of the RAPID scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36861/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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RAPID aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 45 designated RAPID areas. The priorities for each RAPID area are identified locally by each RAPID area implementation team and are incorporated into a plan for each area. Each Department reports on progress in relation to the proposals from these plans that fall within their remit for the quarterly meetings of the RAPID national monitoring committee. It is estimated that over €337 million has been spent in the RAPID areas in social provision under the NDP.

My Department, supported by Pobal, which was previously known as Area Development Management Ltd., ADM, co-ordinates the implementation of the RAPID programme. As part of its co-ordinating role, my Department receives regular updates on the implementation of the RAPID programme. These updates range from informal ad hoc updates to reports prepared for the quarterly RAPID national monitoring committee, which I chair. These reports can be accessed at www.pobal.ie .

In addition, I also arrange to meet the RAPID co-ordinators, the chairpersons of area implementation teams and directors of community and enterprise twice yearly to review the ongoing implementation of the programme.

As regards a formal review of the programme, following discussions with my Department, Pobal has initiated a tender process to appoint consultants to undertake an evaluation of the RAPID programme.