Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the level of RAPID programme funding on annual basis over the 2010 to 2016 period in tabular form; the allocation for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16219/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) Programme was launched in February 2001.  It was a focused Government initiative targeting State resources at 51 of the most disadvantaged urban areas in the Country.  

The Programme was aimed at improving the quality of life and the opportunities available to residents of the most disadvantaged communities in Irish cities and towns.  It aimed, in a focused and practical way, to reduce the deprivation faced by residents of disadvantaged communities.  

The RAPID leverage schemes were initiated in 2004, by the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in order to support small-scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas.  These schemes, which related to capital projects, were co-funded by the relevant agencies and funded projects that focused on estate enhancement, graffiti clean-up, traffic calming, CCTV, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds.

The table below sets out the leverage funding available through my Department. It does not include any leverage funding amounts available through other Departments or Agencies.

With effect from 2012, the RAPID Leverage schemes were closed to all new applications and the Programme effectively ceased to operate.

The Programme for a Partnership Government gave a commitment to reactivating the RAPID Programme in 2017.  It is anticipated that the re-cast RAPID Programme will roll out in the near future. The total allocation for the RAPID Programme in Budget 2017 is €5 million, which includes an allocation for existing commitments under the previous RAPID Programme.  The logistical and other arrangements for the recast Programme are currently under consideration in my Department.