Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the moneys on a county basis awarded by his Department by way of a grant or other support in the year ending 31 December 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26839/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have informed the Deputy previously, my Department administers and delivers a wide range of programmes and measures, descriptions of which are available on its website at www.pobail.ie. While expenditure under these programme areas takes place countrywide, it is not possible to give a county-by-county breakdown of that expenditure. For example, a number of my Department's programmes are delivered through agencies and other intermediary bodies that operate across county boundaries and in respect of which there is no detailed breakdown on a county basis held by my Department. In addition, groups and organisations that receive grants directly from my Department are not necessarily constituted on a single-county basis.

In view of the wide range of my Department's schemes and programmes and the large volumes of applications received thereunder on an ongoing basis, I am satisfied that the work involved in compiling and collating a full county-by-county breakdown of expenditure would exceed the information value of such statistics. If, however, the Deputy would like specific information in relation to a particular county and/or scheme, I would be glad to arrange to have consideration given to any such request from him.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the expected expenditure under the RAPID scheme in County Kildare in 2007: the way this compares with 2006; his plans in this regard for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26840/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within 46 designated RAPID areas. This Department, with the support of Pobal, has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the RAPID programme. It is a matter for individual Departments to report progress with their projects under the RAPID programme. The latest data in respect of the programme is available on Pobal's website under the RAPID section (http://www.pobal.ie/live/ RAPID). Athy is the only area in County Kildare that has RAPID status.

The Deputy will be aware that I introduced the RAPID Leverage Schemes in 2004. Under these schemes, my Department directly funds schemes with other Departments and agencies to provide playgrounds, traffic safety measures, CCTV, health facilities, and improve the environment of local authority housing estates and flat complexes. In addition, top-up funding is provided to sporting organisations that have been successful in receiving support under the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism's Sports Capital Programme.

The total funding allocated to projects in the Athy RAPID area under the leverage schemes in 2006 was €211,000 and €96,750 in 2007. The Deputy will be aware that expenditure is dependent on the speed with which projects are completed. Some €200,000 in outstanding commitments made to the end of 2006 remain to be claimed in the Athy RAPID area. The amount expended in respect of projects funded by the leverage schemes in the Athy RAPID area in 2006 was €92,000 and €86,000 in 2007.

I am constantly monitoring the schemes to ensure that they are serving the needs identified by people in the RAPID communities. Last year, in response to requests, I broadened the Playground Scheme to provide funding for Multi-User Games Areas, which has proved very popular. The Deputy will be aware of the joint initiative announced earlier this year with my colleague the Minister for Education and Science that will enable €18m worth of investment in schools in RAPID areas funded by Dormant Accounts. I understand that the Minister of Education and Science and I will be in a position to announce allocations under this scheme following a detailed assessment of applications received.