Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to assist rural or urban groups here who may be involved in urban regeneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23221/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the full extent of the community based programmes currently run or funded by his Department; his plans to expand or extend such activity in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23228/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and nature of applications from various groups in County Kildare for grant aid under the RAPID or CLÁR programmes currently on hand; the degree to which it is intended to meet these requirements in full in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23229/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which urban or rural community groups in County Kildare are expected to qualify for grant aid under the various schemes run by his Department in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he proposes to address issues such as anti-social behaviour by way of funding through the various schemes operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23232/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has addressed social or economic deprivation in urban or rural areas in County Kildare in 2009; his plans in this regard in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23233/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 37, 38, 39, 41 and 42 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department implements and funds a wide range of measures, programmes and schemes covering the areas addressed by the Deputy in his questions. Details of all of the programmes and schemes operated by my Department, including guidelines and criteria and recipients of grant support, are available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie. All applications for funding received by my Department are assessed in line with the eligibility criteria of the relevant schemes and decisions made accordingly.

In relation to applications under the RAPID and CLÁR programmes, both generally and from applicants in Co. Kildare, in many cases funding is channelled through the Votes or allocations of other Departments, State bodies or local authorities, sometimes on a top-up basis. In many cases, the funding is in respect of programmes and projects for which those other organisations have responsibility and accountability, with the relevant data on applications and beneficiaries held by those public bodies. Given the large number of applications involved, and the other factors mentioned, the cost of assembling the information would be unjustifiably high and unrealistic. If the Deputy has a specific question about an application or project, I will be happy to deal with that or to refer him to the relevant organisation.

Against the background of the current economic reality and of the pressure on the public finances, my priority is to make every effort that front-line services provided through my Department, including urban regeneration, community-based programmes, anti-social behaviour etc, are prioritised. Although funding for some programmes operated by my Department has been reduced, I still expect a strong spend on such areas through programmes such as CLÁR and RAPID, which should ensure continued impact in these areas.