Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if it is intended to expand, revise or reconfigure the RAPID programme with particular reference to increased demands arising from changed economic and social circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41220/08]

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 the 46 designated RAPID areas. The Programme is managed on behalf of the Department by Pobal.

The Government has given a commitment to continue to prioritise investment in the existing RAPID areas and no area currently included in the Programme will lose its eligibility for priority treatment. My attention at present is focused on an analysis of recent Census data with a view to ensuring that the boundaries of existing RAPID areas are appropriate. A key concern will be to ensure that the effectiveness of the RAPID Programme is not diluted and that Government action continues to prioritise and target communities with the greatest needs.

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.

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. Each Department/Agency with responsibility for the strategic themes has prepared guidance for the Area Implementation Team 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. In September 2008 I launched the RAPID Education Theme and the Physical Environment Theme. Responsibility for the development of each strategic theme rests with the lead Department or Agency. I expect to launch the remaining Themes shortly.