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

33. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expenditure under the RAPID programme since its re-inception; the amount of this that was expended in the areas designated RAPID under the previous programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25027/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Expenditure under the RAPID programme, launched in 2017, was €2m.  Of this total, €763,503 was spent in areas that were designated as RAPID areas under the original programme. 

Grants were provided to support projects which were tackling social exclusion and helping to improve the quality of life for residents in disadvantaged urban areas and provincial towns.  Almost 300 projects were funded under the programme. Of these, 100 were specifically in areas designated as RAPID areas under the original programme. 

Many of the designated areas under the original RAPID programme were chosen over 15 years ago. Using the LCDC decision making process to allocate funding to projects under the new programme ensured that up-to-date information and local knowledge were applied to allocate available funding appropriately.

Separately, the €2m Communities Facilities Scheme (CFS) also provided small scale capital funding to almost 3,000 grassroots organisations addressing disadvantage nationwide.

Last month I launched the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) which replaces and builds on RAPID and the CFS.  Combining these schemes will make for a more flexible, streamlined and targeted approach to providing funding to those communities most in need, while reducing the level of administration involved.