Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 25: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the current operating co-ordinating role of his Department is the most effective way of operating the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36997/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that 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 already indicated to the House, following discussions with my Department, Pobal commissioned a formal evaluation of the programme the final report of which was launched on 1 June last. The report indicates that the experience of the RAPID Programme has been very positive in many areas and the Programme has made substantial progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities and in implementing important local projects in response to those needs. The report also indicates that since my Department took over the co-ordinating role in relation to the programme it has been very proactive in its development and has been a real driver of the changes which made the programme a more effective mechanism for addressing the problems of disadvantaged communities.

As I have previously indicated, I believe that the RAPID Programme should continue into the future and that RAPID in its current form provides a long-term model to support disadvantaged communities.