Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the necessary funding will be provided to ensure the reopening of a community centre (details supplied) in Dublin 8 which has been closed since summer 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/09]

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 on the provision of funding and progress on delivery with respect to projects under their responsibility in the RAPID areas. 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 are available on Pobal's website under the RAPID section — http://www.pobal.ie/live/RAPID — and the Deputy may find it useful to access this information.

RAPID has adopted environmental improvement and the addressing of crime and community safety as two of its key strategic themes for future action. In September 2008, my Department along with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government launched the RAPID Physical Environment Improvement Scheme. The objective of this scheme is to fund Programmes of Works in each RAPID area designed to support the delivery of small-scale and locally identified project linked to these themes.

Initiatives to improve community safety include the provision of security doors, barriers, railings and gates. My Department, with Dublin City Council (on behalf of Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), has made €20,000 available towards refurbishment costs and the installation of security measures for the Community Centre in question, which will assist in the reopening of the facility.