Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is considering a reintroduction of the RAPID programme in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68433/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I was delighted to announce funding of €5 million in Budget 2026 for the introduction of a “RAPID-style” scheme, in line with the Programme for Government commitments. 

The original RAPID programme ran from 2001 and closed to new applications in 2011.  RAPID stands for Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development.  It was a focused initiative by the Government to target the 25 most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the country.  

A number of guiding principles underpinned RAPID activity in the original programme: community participation and local ownership; promotion of strategic planning; co-ordination of provision of State services; building on existing structures; complementing existing initiatives; flexibility; and targeting of “additional” services, investment and facilities.

My Department is now examining the potential formulation of the new initiative. Considerations that will inform the development of the new scheme will include, but are not limited to, the changed demographic and socio economic landscape since the previous programme, potential geographical areas to be considered for targeted support and the levels of funding already available through other schemes in my Department.  I hope to be able to launch the scheme in the new year.