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

16. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the total spend under the RAPID programme this year by his Department; the purposes of this spend; if he has met the chairs and co-ordinators of the RAPID groups together in the past year; if he has, the number of times and the dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22063/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion in areas covered by the programme.

Over the past number of years, my Department has continued to meet its existing contractual commitments on RAPID projects throughout the country. There is now just one remaining measure under the RAPID programme, which accounts for unpaid commitments, namely the sports capital top-ups. In 2015, I allocated funding of €500,000 for sports capital projects under the programme and these are being jointly funded with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Drawdown to date has been €52,000 with further drawdowns anticipated over the remainder of the year.

The RAPID programme has made substantial progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities and in bringing forward important local projects in response to those needs.

While I have not met the Chair or Coordinators of the RAPID Groups in the last year specifically on RAPID issues, a s part of my continuing engagement with both the local development and local government sectors, I have met with many of the Chairs and Co-ordinators on a wide range of community issues at different times over the last year at various fora and events.