Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the additional funding spent in the targeted areas of disadvantage in the State under the RAPID programme on projects not outlined in the national development plan by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19925/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Government Departments and State Agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense.

The RAPID programme designated 45 areas for priority investment and frontloading of funding under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 (NDP). The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána are represented on the RAPID National Monitoring Committee. At a local level the Garda Síochána and the Probation and Welfare Service are represented on RAPID Area Implementation Teams and facilitate the co-ordinated and service integrated delivery of the RAPID programme.

In November 2005 the Garda Síochána held a seminar for all the Garda representatives on Area Implementation Teams with the aim of further developing and enhancing the role and participation of Gardaí in the RAPID programme. In line with the Government policing priorities for 2006, which are contained in the Garda Síochána Policing Plan 2006, the Garda Commissioner has agreed to review local policing arrangements in communities in the RAPID programme areas where local residents are seeking to have issues such as persistent vandalism, low and high level intimidation and other anti-social behaviour more effectively addressed. In addition, the Garda Síochána have implemented proposals received through the RAPID programme.

My Department decides on approving funding for RAPID proposals within the context of existing allocations across Votes under my Department's remit. Particular priority is given to RAPID proposals which fall within the functional areas financed by the National Development Plan (NDP). Information on the funding provided by my Department under the RAPID programme is as follows: Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 under the NDP and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010. Responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 (which is part of the NDP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 has been assigned, from 1 April 2006, to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children under the Minister for Children, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D.

Although the EOCP is not solely focused on RAPID areas it has contributed significantly to the provision of child care in RAPID areas. I understand from enquiries made with Pobal, which administers the grants on the Government's behalf, that funding committed up to the end of March 2006 under the EOCP includes the provision of almost €112 million of funding to child care services operating in RAPID areas (of which almost €35 million is in respect of proposals submitted under the RAPID programme). The total amount includes a mix of projects which came forward in the first instance under RAPID area regeneration plans, and projects which applied directly for funding to the EOCP and which are located in RAPID areas. The allocations under the EOCP include support for the development of new child care places and support towards the staffing costs of services. Allocations have also been made under the EOCP to organisations which support the promotion of quality in Irish child care, which would positively impact on many services located in RAPID areas.

With regard to the NCIP (which is not part of the NDP), I understand that one capital grant, to the value of €100,000, has been approved in a RAPID area up to the end of March 2006. Funding of €3.3 million, under the NDP, has been allocated by my Department under Phase 1 of the Equality for Women measure to 18 projects located in or adjacent to RAPID areas. Phase II of the measure specifically targets economically disadvantaged women in RAPID areas. In March 2005 I approved grants amounting to €7million to fund the development of 58 projects located in RAPID areas throughout the country which support equality for women.

Since the commencement of the RAPID programme funding of €2.834 million has been allocated by my Department through the Probation and Welfare Service in respect of proposals submitted under the RAPID programme in respect of five Probation and Welfare Service projects. In addition, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs co-funded the provision of capital items for Probation and Welfare Service projects in RAPID areas to the amount of €60,000 in 2004 and €123,000 in 2005.

Garda youth diversion projects are community based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people from becoming involved (or further involved) in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve prospects of employability. My Department currently funds 64 Garda youth diversion projects and 7 mainstreamed Local Drugs Task Force projects. The funding allocation for the projects for 2006 is €6.6 million. It is my intention to expand the scheme to 100 Garda youth diversion projects nationwide by the end of 2007. I have received from the Garda Commissioner a short-list of ten proposals for consideration, which I hope to have established before the end of June this year. Seven of the ten proposals to establish new projects are for RAPID areas. A total of 51 of the projects currently operating are located in 32 of the 45 RAPID areas. Expenditure on the projects in 2005 in RAPID areas amounted to almost €4 million (of which €1.323 million was NDP funded). Expenditure to date in 2005 is €2.5 million (of which €940,000 is NDP funded). In addition, in 2005 my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, co-funded to the amount of €199,000 the provision of capital items (such as community buses and IT equipment) for Garda youth diversion projects in RAPID areas.

I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme last year in response to a demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. The purpose of the Scheme is to support local communities who wish to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area, with the aim of increasing public safety and reducing the risk of anti-social and criminal activity. Under this Scheme, communities could apply for grant aid funding of up to €100,000 from the Department to install a CCTV system in their area. In addition, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs gave a commitment to provide successful applicants from RAPID areas with a further grant to a maximum of €100,000 subject to the total grant aid from both Departments not exceeding €200,000 or 100% of the capital costs of the project, whichever is the lesser.

The Community Based CCTV Scheme offered two stages or options that were designed to meet the requirements of communities in both of these situations. Stage 1 offered pre-development supports and possible funding for organisations/ groups who were not yet ready to develop their proposals fully or utilise funds. The stage 2 process offered a direct application process to access funds to those organisations who could demonstrate an ability to develop and deliver a CCTV programme immediately.

Over €1 million in grant aid has already been allocated by my Department to 37 communities under the Scheme, of which over €900,000 has been allocated to 30 RAPID areas under both the stage 1 pre-development (18) and stage 2 operational (12) application process. Many of these areas could see their CCTV systems in operation before the end of the year.

I plan to make a further call for proposals under the Scheme in the coming months.