Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
518. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 4 December 2025, if he or his Department is considering a reintroduction of the RAPID programme in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a new communities initiative, similar in style to the previous RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) programme, where all state agencies work together to implement community development and town-centre rejuvenation. Capital Funding of €5 million was announced in Budget 2026 for the introduction of the new programme. My Department is currently examining the potential formulation of this programme. Considerations that will inform the development of the new programme 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. The original RAPID programme was established in 2001. It was an area-based approach to disadvantage, representing a focused initiative by Government to target the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the country. It is expected that the new programme will launch in the coming weeks.
