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THE RAPID PROGRAMME FOR PROVINCIAL TOWNS
What is the RAPID Programme?
The RAPID Programme is a focused Government response aimed at helping
communities living in areas, which have not fully shared in our recent
prosperity. The programme is made up of two Strands - Strand I (which
was launched in February 2001), focuses on major urban areas and Strand
II which deals with provincial towns, including the city of Galway
(which was not included in Strand I). The CLÁR Programme for
rural areas was launched in October 2001.
RAPID stands for Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development.
As the name implies RAPID is about prioritising in a coherent, targeted
and accelerated way, new and improved services and infrastructural
investment to the communities living in RAPID areas. Under the National
Development Plan (NDP), Government Departments and State Agencies,
including local authorities, will be giving special attention to the
areas targeted to ensure efficient and effective implementation of
RAPID.
What Provincial Towns are included in the Programme?
Twenty towns, including parts of Galway city, have been selected
for inclusion in the Provincial Towns Strand of the RAPID Programme.
These are made up of ten large and ten small towns. The towns were
identified on the basis of objective criteria, including educational
attainment and social housing. The identification process was managed
by Area Development Management Limited (ADM) on behalf of the Department
of the Environment and Local Government.
Details of the twenty towns are set out in the Appendix 1.
Who will Benefit?
The aim is to ensure that disadvantaged areas within all towns selected
under RAPID are re-vitalised and renewed. Altogether, it is estimated
that around 100,000 people stand to benefit from the provincial
towns strand of RAPID. For the bigger towns investment will be targeted
at those areas within the town identified as most in need. In the
case of smaller towns, there will be a more whole town approach,
but with the emphasis on disadvantaged areas within these town(s).
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How can a town access support?
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Provided a town is on the list of selected towns, then the local
Co-ordinator, employed by the local authority, will work with local
residents to assess the needs of the area. The Area Implementation
Team will then prepare a plan that addresses these needs. Once a
plan for the relevant areas within the town is drawn up and agreed,
the intention is that NDP investment will be channelled to meet
the genuine requirements identified.
How will it work?
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 what's 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 will be established. It
will bring together local State Agency personnel (Local Authority,
Health Board, VEC, Dept of Social, Community and Family Affairs,
FÁS, etc), the local Partnership Company and residents from
the local community. The team will have the support of the relevant
County Development Board, the local authority and the RAPID liaison
staff in Area Development Management Ltd.
The Area Implementation Team will draw up an implementation plan
for the RAPID areas. The local authority will appoint a special
local co-ordinator for each provincial town to help draw up and
implement the Plan in consultation with the relevant agencies and
the local community. The local co-ordinator will work with the local
community to:
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Identify what the local needs really are. |
| B |
See how best to tackle the problems identified. |
C
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Ensure provision and co-ordination of services
and investment involving the kinds of services and facilities
that are most urgently needed in the area and which can be delivered
within the next three years. |
The implementation plan will build on and take account of existing
plans for the relevant areas within the selected towns. The focus
will be on targeting genuine need in a realistic and achievable
manner.
Will the local community have a say?
Involvement of the local community is crucial to the success of
the Programme. The local community will have access to their local
co-ordinator in identifying local needs. The Area Implementation
Team, which will propose plans for each area, will include residents
from the local community.
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How will RAPID be monitored?
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The Social Inclusion Co-ordinating Group which is linked to the
County Development Board will be expanded, and adapted as necessary,
to monitor the RAPID Programme at local level. It will comprise
State Agency personnel, local public representatives, representatives
of the local development sector and the Social Partners. This Monitoring
Group will have an input into devising a plan for the area and ensuring
the delivery of services. There is also a National Monitoring Committee,
chaired by Dr. Maureen Gaffney, overseeing the RAPID Programme,
which will report to Government.
How to get more information?
More information can be obtained from the Community and Enterprise
Office in the local authority.
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Rapid
National
