Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 198: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the expenditure by his Department through the various schemes in operation in County Kildare in the past 12 months; his proposals in this regard for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32833/07]

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

Records maintained by my Department indicate that a total of €4,458,004.00 will be expended by my Department in grants and assistance to groups in Co. Kildare during 2007 under various programmes as summarised below. A further estimated spend of €1.7million will be expended by Waterways Ireland within the county during 2007.

My Department will continue to promote and support the sustainable and inclusive development of communities in Co. Kildare in 2008, through its various measures, schemes and programmes. The funding available for 2008 will be determined in the context of Budgetary allocations for next year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 199: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his expenditure under the RAPID and CLÁR schemes throughout the Leinster counties in 2007; his proposals in this regard in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32834/07]

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

The RAPID Programme operates in 46 designated disadvantaged urban areas and the CLÁR Programme is available across 23 counties that have suffered significant levels of depopulation.

As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, it is a matter for individual Departments to report progress under the RAPID programme. In support, Pobal collects data from each RAPID area in respect of funding allocations received by projects from Government Departments and local state agencies. The latest data in respect of the programme is available on Pobal's website under the RAPID section (http://www.pobal.ie/live/RAPID). The Deputy may find it helpful to access this information. I understand that full data in respect of the year 2007 will not be collected until early 2008.

I initiated the leverage schemes in 2004 in order to support small-scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by the relevant agencies and fund projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, CCTV, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds. Earlier this year I agreed to co-fund the provision of facilities in schools located in, or mainly servicing children from, RAPID areas.

Expenditure to date in 2007 on the RAPID Leverage schemes is some €3million in Leinster and on the CLÁR programme is some €1.1 million. The level of funding for CLÁR and RAPID Leverage Schemes in 2008 will be dealt with in the context of the Budget.