John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the RAPID programme has now ceased operating in view of the establishment of the community enhancement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27376/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The original RAPID programme ran from 2001 and closed to new applications in 2011. In 2017, a nationwide re-cast RAPID programme was launched. This was different to the original programme in a number of ways. For example, it did not have designated RAPID areas or area implementation teams. All areas of the country were eligible for funding, and the funding was administered by Local Community Development Committees.

In early 2018, my Department completed a review of the re-cast RAPID programme and the Community Facilities Scheme (CFS). A report which provides information on that review, including a summary of key decisions, is available on the following link:

On foot of this review, I launched the new Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) in May 2018. It replaces and builds on RAPID and the CFS.

Combining these schemes makes for a more flexible, streamlined and targeted approach to providing funding to those communities most in need, while reducing the level of administration involved.