Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the decision to discontinue the greater Blanchardstown development project; if her attention has been drawn to the services provided by this community development project and the effect of its discontinuation on the local community and the persons who availed of or depended on the CDP. [2276/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined previously to the House, my Department has seen the need to redesign its community development/social inclusion programmes, particularly the Local Development Social Inclusion (LDSIP) and Community Development Programmes (CDP), drawing on good international practice and to support the ongoing evaluation of the programmes. Both programmes have a community development element and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

The aim of the new programme is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. This will be underpinned by four high level goals:

To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services

To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources

To increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects

To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision-making processes on matters affecting local communities. The new programme will preserve elements of good practice from the CDP/LDSIP Programmes and will enable groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. An implementation strategy, involving the stakeholders, is underway in preparation for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single programme across CDPs and Partnerships, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects. Many of these projects span across two decades, with quite diverse activities. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. The vast majority of projects fall into this category and have been offered funding under the new programme in 2010. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding, an appropriate appeals mechanism has been provided. I understand the project referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal and that officials from my Department have been in touch with them in this regard. It is intended that the appeals process would be completed before end-January 2010 and during that period temporary funding has been provided in respect of the basic running costs of projects under appeal, i.e., grant towards salaries and appropriate overheads.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount that has been allocated to RAPID funding in south Tipperary every year since 2004 to date in 2010; the projects that have received funding; the projects that will receive funding for 2010; the number of full-time staff employed by RAPID in south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement regarding the impact of RAPID funding on south Tipperary as assessed by his Department. [2442/10]

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 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. 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 support projects that focus on estate management, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds. The table sets out details of RAPID leverage funding by my Department in south Tipperary from 2004 to date. Ongoing co-funding of projects approved under the schemes will continue in 2010, subject to resources.

I am satisfied that the impact of the programme has facilitated RAPID communities in south Tipperary in taking greater ownership of local development, and has also enabled state organisations to work together to improve the quality of life for local people.