Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he expects to or will expand or extend the CLÁR or RAPID programmes with a view to making the schemes available to the wider community and addressing a greater extent of emerging issues of a socioeconomic nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23915/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently decided to include Ballina, Co. Mayo, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and Rathkeale, Co. Limerick in the RAPID Programme. The inclusion of these five new areas will bring the number of designated RAPID areas from 46 to 51. These changes follow an independent review of the findings of the 2006 Census returns, carried out by Trutz Haase. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the implementation of this decision.

The CLÁR Programme coverage area has been revised twice since its launch in October 2001. As a result, CLÁR now covers parts of 23 counties and benefits a population of nearly 727,000. I have no plans at present for a further extension of the Programme.