Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 352: 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 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41897/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 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 is available on Pobal's website under the RAPID section - http://www.pobal.ie/Funding%20Programmes/Rapid/Pages/Funding.aspx -and the Deputy may find it useful to access this information.

There are currently two claims on hand from Kildare under this Department's RAPID Leverage Scheme. Both of these claims are for playgrounds. 2010 funding for my Department's programmes will be determined as part of the overall estimates programme and I am not in a position to give the 2010 allocation yet for the RAPID Leveraged Measure. The Deputy will be aware that there are no CLÁR areas in County Kildare.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 354: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans 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. [41899/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the designated RAPID areas nationally. Following an independent evaluation of the RAPID programme commissioned in 2006, it was recommended that, in order to further develop and enhance the programme through the lifetime of the 2007-2013 NDP, it should be focussed on seven Strategic Themes: Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour, Family Support, Youth Support, Physical Environment, Education, Health and Employment/Training. This recommendation has been pursued and the strategic themes have been established across RAPID areas.

Separately, in order to ensure the continued relevance of the Programme and the designated RAPID areas, I commissioned, through POBAL, a study to develop/update small area deprivation indices based on an analysis of the most recent census data. I initiated this review last year because from my experience of visiting communities around the country, I felt that some areas that were not in the Programme might be eligible now. Based on the study, I proposed the designation of five provincial towns as new RAPID areas; this was accepted by Cabinet in May 2009. The study also indicated that minor adjustments to the boundaries of a number of existing RAPID areas would be justified and this process is still ongoing. I hope to have the whole process completed early in 2010.

The Government decision of May 2009 was to include Ballina, Co. Mayo, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and Rathkeale, Co. Limerick in the RAPID Programme. The Revised Programme of Government of October 2009 expresses the Governments commitment to 'Continue to develop the RAPID Programme that is giving local communities in the most disadvantaged urban areas a real voice for change for the better in their own communities.'

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 355: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to reconstitute the CLÁR programme with a view to identifying the way strategic support could be realigned to respond to emerging social or economic problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41900/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware, the CLÁR Programme was set up as an innovative programme to deal with infrastructural deficits in the most peripheral communities in Ireland that had suffered significant population loss. Measures for roads, water, sewerage and school playgrounds are amongst the many successful initiatives run under the CLÁR Programme.

For the future, the Renewed Programme for Government has identified the need to continue to invest in disadvantaged rural communities through CLÁR, and will do this by focusing the Programme on priority local needs in targeted CLÁR areas. The CLÁR Programme has sought to address the new challenges faced by small rural communities and has been continuously refocused towards this end. This approach will continue to inform my delivery of the CLÁR Programme. In this regard, I will examine options to deliver on this Programme for Government commitment in the context of the resources available.