Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the recently announced RAPID thematic strategy; the targets and objectives that are expected to be reached in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5518/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The 2006 evaluation of the RAPID Programme indicated that the experience of the Programme has been very positive in many areas and that it has made substantial progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities and in implementing important local projects in response to those needs. The evaluation recommended that a future Programme should be developed under a number of key Strategic Themes. These were Community Safety & Anti-social Behaviour, Family, Youth, Physical Environment, Education, Health and Employment/Training.

A national framework for the development of these strategic themes is now in place and will support the development of strategies and plans to respond to the issues within a local context identified by the Area Implementation Teams (AIT). Each Department/Agency with responsibility for the strategic themes has prepared guidance for the AIT that includes objectives, performance indicators and targets. These will be further developed within the AIT in each RAPID area. I launched the Health, Family and Community Safety and Anti-social Behaviour themes on 30th January 2008. Responsibility for the development of each strategic theme rests with the lead Department or Agency.