Written answers

Thursday, 9 November 2006

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Departmental Programmes

5:00 pm

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the envisaged timescales and completion dates of the works to proceed under the RAPID local authority housing estate enhancement scheme 2007 to 2008. [36897/06]

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to the fact that each RAPID area received a total allocation of €100,000 in February 2006 and his recent announcement of new allocations for estate enhancement, his views on the need for a greater spending on estate environments; if he has raised the issue with the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37065/06]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 41 together.

In February of this year I announced the Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme for 2007/2008. Each of the RAPID areas has been allocated €45,000 by my Department to match similar levels of funding to be provided by local authorities from their internal capital receipts and a further contribution of €10,000 from their internal revenues. Local authorities have been invited to make proposals for eligible works including landscaping, improvement of open spaces, seating areas, lighting, boundary walls and works to make open spaces in flat complexes amenable to recreational use. The 2007/2008 scheme is the third series of funding for this purpose.

The Terms and Conditions of the scheme allow local authorities sufficient time to consult with the RAPID Area Implementation Team in selecting and agreeing details of the projects to be proposed. Local authorities are required to ensure delivery of the projects within a reasonable timeframe and the terms of the scheme are designed to support early execution. Ideally, projects should be completed during 2007 or early 2008 at the latest. Local authorities have been informed that they will be reimbursed for up to 50% of the costs of projects in 2007 and may be entitled to a higher level of funds if sufficient resources are available. Any costs incurred by local authorities in 2007 and not recouped in that year can be claimed in 2008.

I introduced the RAPID Leverage Schemes in 2004. Through these schemes my Department, in partnership with other Departments and agencies, funds proposals to; provide playgrounds, institute traffic control measures, improve health facilities, support sporting infrastructure, install community CCTV systems as well as enhancing housing estates. The schemes are aimed at small-scale capital works – works that require relatively small amounts of funding but can produce real and concrete benefits to the local communities in which they are delivered. Importantly, these schemes allow the people who will be affected to have a direct input into influencing and deciding what projects will be undertaken. The RAPID Area Implementation Team in each RAPID area plays a role in prioritising and selecting projects.

It is not intended that the leverage scheme will be the full solution to the needs of many housing estates in RAPID areas. However, the strength of these small schemes is that they are sufficiently flexible to address projects that are identified by people living in RAPID areas and that can make meaningful improvements to their quality of life. Residents in RAPID areas are central to how projects are identified and prioritised. In working with the local authority, short-term needs can be addressed that give immediate benefits.

The recently published evaluation of the RAPID Programme indicates that the leverage schemes make an important contribution to the development of the Programme. The schemes provided funding that could be linked directly to the Programme and encouraged greater buy in from local stakeholders as a result.

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