Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has grant aided or otherwise assisted various projects here in 2008 under the CLÁR programme; the degree to which this corresponds with budgetary projections; if adjustments are proposed in the course of the remainder of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33845/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To date in 2008 €14.691m has been provided to various projects under the CLÁR programme. This represents almost 70% of the total allocation of €21.183 for this year. Given its popularity and emerging demand I anticipate an additional spend of the order of €3m on the programme this year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and nature of projects, funded by his Department to date in 2008 under the RAPID programme; the extent to which this is in line budgetary projections; his proposals for further development in this area in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33846/08]

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 nationally. 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.

I initiated the RAPID 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, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas. These schemes are subject to ongoing review to ensure that they remain responsive to the demands of the RAPID communities. Where opportunities arise, the eligibility of individual schemes can be extended to reflect emerging needs identified by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas.

To date in 2008 the following amounts have been allocated to each of the strands funded under the RAPID Programme.

In addition my Department co-funds 33 projects in RAPID areas under the Community-Based CCTV Scheme with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which administers this Scheme.

The total allocation for RAPID Leverage for 2008 is €9.3 million, this consists of €7.8 million for capital and €1.5 million for current expenditure, the spend in the year to-date is in line with budgetary projections.

Disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons — those who are socially or economically disadvantaged; those who are educationally disadvantaged; and persons with a disability. Funding is provided from the Dormant Accounts Fund through the Votes of relevant lead Departments.

Matters in relation to 2009 will be considered in the context of available resources for the RAPID programme next year.