Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the introduction of RAPID programme in Rathkeale, County Limerick. [17855/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, Rathkeale was one of five new towns designated as part of the RAPID Programme by a Government decision on 26 May 2009.

At present, Rathkeale has a Taskforce in place made up of members of local State agencies, as well as community representatives. This Taskforce is in the process of becoming the RAPID Area Implementation Team for Rathkeale.

My Department is making €250,000 available to Rathkeale from Dormant Accounts funding to be used on small infrastructural products over the next two years. I am also pleased that Limerick County Council has appointed a co-ordinator with responsibility for RAPID in Rathkeale.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans for the two community development projects (details supplied) in the Donegal Gaeltacht in view of the fact that proposals have been submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18077/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my predecessor, Minister Éamon Ó Cuív, T. D., announced in December 2009 that he was initiating a comprehensive review of the funding and structure of community-based, State-funded organisations in the Gaeltacht. The aim of the review is to provide for realigned and restructured State-funded groups with a role in language planning, community development, enterprise development and social inclusion.

The realignment will cover community organisations funded by my Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is intended that the various Gaeltacht areas, including the areas covered by the community development projects referred to by the Deputy, will be served by a principal community-based organisation. This will facilitate a more co-ordinated and cohesive delivery of services to Gaeltacht communities. There will be particular emphasis on language planning initiatives at community level, in line with proposals contained in the Draft 20-year Strategy for the Irish language, which is currently being reviewed by the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Consultation with the existing State-funded groups will take place during 2010, prior to any change being implemented.

Both of the projects referred to by the Deputy have been offered temporary contracts of funding under the new Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) until such time as the review of State-funded community organisations in Gaeltacht areas is completed. Officials from my Department have been in contact with - and also recently met - representatives of the groups concerned regarding proposals submitted by them for an alternative LCDP integration model, which included the non-Gaeltacht areas. However, these proposals do not meet my Department's requirements for either the Gaeltacht or the non-Gaeltacht areas.