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The delivery arrangements for the Provincial Towns Strand as suitably adapted, generally mirror those for Strand I (major urban areas). The targeted RAPID areas within the towns will be prioritised for investment and development under the NDP in line with priorities set out in the Area Implementation Plan. Such priorities might include: health, education, housing, childcare and community facilities including sports facilities, youth development, employment, drug misuse and policing. Each RAPID area will, however, have varying needs and priorities. The intention is that real and practical improvements will be made to make sure services are better and easier to access. Essentially whats involved is getting the various State Agencies working together and pooling resources for the benefit of the more disadvantaged areas in response to identified needs.

Area Implementation Team ?

An Area Implementation Team for the town has been established. It has brought together local State Agency personnel the Local Authority, Health Board, VEC, Dept of Social, Community and Family Affairs, FÁS, the local Partnership Company, the Garda Siochana, the Kilkenny Borough Council and residents from the local community. The team will have the support of the County Development Board, the Kilkenny County Council ,Ronan Ryan the RAPID co-ordinator and liaison staff from Area Development Management Ltd.

Interim Plan

The Area Implementation Team have drawn up an interim plan in conjunction with the local authorities and RAPID co-ordinator.
The Area Implementation Team liasing with the existing communitity reps have identified 18 projects in total which have been included in the interim plan . All of these projects have been RAPID stamped and fowarded to the relevant departments.

The Strategic Plan

Now that the interim plan has been submitted , work will now concentrate on the development of the longterm Strategic plan. The Strategic Plan will continue to prioritise projects in the identified RAPID areas and document an indepth area profile.

The next round of project applications must be in with the RAPID plan by June 2003.

Who are your Community contacts ?

Nora Webster, Ray Scanlon, and Sara Hoban sit on the Area Implementation Team representating the RAPID communities.

The community contacts from each Rapid area include.

Stephen Murphy ( Fr. McGrath Centre- The Butts ) Ray Scanlon ( Bishop Birch Place )
Mags Leahy ( Newparkclose / Chair of Cog ) Margaret Reilly (St Mary's) Claire Kenealy
( St. Catherines ) Fergus Keane ( KCAN ) Phil O'Reilly ( O'Loughlin Court ) Group being developed James Leaghy (Ossory Park ) Mary Joyce (McCauley Place ) Mr. John and Angela Parker ( New Orchard ) Mags Laffin ( Hebron Park / Bishop Birch Place ) Penny O'Dwy
( Millenium Court ) Shelia Condon ( Loughboy )

The AIT is made up of ..........

RAPID Community News
The Process
Kilkenny County Council
KCAN
The VEC
Dept Community &Family AffairsAffairs
Kilkenny Borough Council
The Garda Siochana

What does this involve ?

1. Community Consultation Phase
2. AIT Support and Development
3. Area Profile Development
4. Development of Task Groups

It is now time for us to start thinking about the Long Term Strategic Plan and it is important that everone has an opportunity to feed into the process.

Community Web-site

A community Web-site is in the process of being designed which will be updated on a weekly basis.

The website will

Provide detailed information on each community

Host an updated newspage

Enhance inter community communication

Have links to relevant government departments and potential funding opportunities

Host a community events page

Highlight community facilities

This web-site will be community owned and will operate in conjunction with the new FAS approved Social Economy Programme ( CTEL)