COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 13, 2011

QUESTION NO. 28

QUESTION: Councillor E. Walsh 2009

An bhféadfadh leis an mBainisteoir gearrthuairisc a thabhairt don Chomhairle conas a chinnteodh sé  go mbeadh ciste iomchuí ann  i gcomhair an chláír RAPID sa chontae sa todhchaí?

An nglacfadh sé tábhacht an chláir RAPID chun dul i ngleic le fadhbanna agus dúshláin na gcomhphobal faoi mhíchumas?

Would the Manager provide a brief report on how he will ensure that adequate funding exists for the RAPID programme in the county in the future?

Would the Manager accept the importance of the RAPID programme in dealing with the problems and challenges that disadvantaged communities?

REPLY:

Tá tacaíocht tugtha ag an gComairle don Chlár RAPID Ó cuireadh tús leis trí na hacmhainní foirne agus airgeadais agus aithníonn sí obair luachmhar Fhoirne agus Chomhordaitheoirí Forfheidhmithe na Limistéar RAPID. Príomhaidhm den Chlár RAPID ná a chinntiú go dtugtar tús Áite chun déileáil le comhchruinniú spásúil na bochtaineachta agus an eisiaimh shóisialta laistigh de na limistéir RAPID shainithe. Aithníodh ceithre limistéar den sórt sin i gContae Átha Cliath Theas. Chun tacú leis an gclár seo cuireadh an Scéim Giaráilte RAPID ar fáil chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do thionscadail mhionscála a d'aithnigh Foirne Forfheidhmithe an Limistéir go háitiúil le cómhaoiniú Ón Údarás Áitiúil. Tá dhá fhoireann den sórt sin i limistéar Chontae Átha Cliath Theas - Tuaisceart Chluain Dolcáin agus Tamhlacht. San Áireamh san obair bhí feasbhsú na n-eastát, graifítí a bhaint, moilliú tráchta, Áiteanna súgartha a sholáthar, CCTV, etc. Tá an maoiniú giaráilte seo d'oibreacha/ do thionscadail ar leith laghdaithe Ó €9 milliún go náisiúnta in 2009 go €2 mhilliún amháin in 2011 agus chomh maith leis sin laghdaíodh an forchúiteamh Ón Roinn do na Comhordaitheoirí RAPID faoi 50% i leith 2011.

In ainneoin seo tá an Chomhairle fós ag fostú Comhordaitheoirí agus ag cur acmhainní isteach i gceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste agus ag obair go dlúth le tionscnaimh Éagsúla eile agus le gníomhaireachtaí stáit lena chinntiú go mbíonn na torthaí is fearr agus is Éifeachtaí sna ceantair seo. Tá forleathnú déanta ar ról na gComhordaitheoirí le comhordú na bhFóram Póilínithe Áitiúil, obair ar Thionscnaimh Sábháilteachta Pobail agus ar Iniúchtaí Sábháilteacht Pobail a chur san Áireamh. Tá an obair seo don chuid is mó sna ceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste.  

Leanann an Chomhairle ag tacú le Foirne Forfheidhmithe na Limistéar RAPID trí aitheantas a thabhairt dá n-ionchur, ról comhairleach, cur chuige idirghníomhaireachta agus an ionadaíocht phobail chuí Áitiúil. 

Faoi láthar tá athbhreithniú Á dhéanamh arís ag an Roinn Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil ar threoir beartais an chláir, go háirithe Ó thaobh róil chomhordaithe agus chomhairleacha áitiúla an chláir agus Ó thaobh feabhas a chur ar na deiseanna le haghaidh ionchuir Ón lucht cónaithe sna ceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste 

The Council has supported the RAPID Programme since it started both through staff  and financial resources and acknowledges the valuable work of the RAPID Area Implementation Teams and Co-ordinators. The RAPID Programme had as a main aim to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusionwithin designated RAPID areas. Four such areas were identified in South Dublin County. To support this programme the RAPID Leverage Scheme was available to support small scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams with co-funding from the local authority. There are two such teams in the South Dublin County area - North Clondalkin and Tallaght. The works included estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, playground provision, CCTV etc. This Leverage funding for special works/projects has been reduced from €9 million nationally in 2009 to just €2 million in 2011 and the recoupment from the Department  for the RAPID Co-Ordinators was also reduced by 50% in respect of 2011.

Notwithstanding this the Council continues the employment of the Co-Ordinators and put resources into the disadvantaged areas and works closely with many other initiatives and state agencies to ensure the best and most effective outcomes in these areas. The role of the Co-Ordinators has been expanded to include Local Policing Fora coordination, work on Community Safety Initiatives and Community Safety Audits. This work remains predominantly in the disadvantaged areas.

The Council continues to  support the RAPID Area Implementation Teams in acknowledgement of its input, consultative role, interagency approach and the local relevant community representation.

The Department for the Environment, Community and Local Government is currently re-assessing teh policy direction of the programme particularly in terms of the coordination and local consultation roles of the programme and enhancing the opportunities for input by residents in disadvantaged areas.