RAPID
Sligo RAPID Programme
RAPID (Revitalising Areas Through Planning Investment & Development) is a Government initiative that targets 45 disadvantaged urban areas in the country. Sligo town has 5 designated RAPID Areas – Cranmore, Forthill Estate/Cartron Estate, Garavogue Villas/Doorly Park, St Josephs Terrace, St Bridget’s Place/Pilkington Terrace, Maugheraboy/Jinks Avenue/Tracey Avenue.
The RAPID Programme aims to:
The RAPID Programme aims to:
- Increase the investment made by Government Departments and state agencies in the 45 communities;
- Improve the delivery of public services through integration and coordination.
- Enhance the opportunities for communities to participate in the strategic improvement of their areas.
The programme is implemented locally by an AIT (Area Implementation Team) consisting of representatives from key agencies and co-ordinated by the RAPID Programme Co-ordinator. The Programme is monitored by SIM (Social Inclusion Measure Group) at a county level and at national level the NMC (National Monitoring Committee) chaired by Minister Éamon Ó Cúiv.
Sligo RAPID Programme – 2004
The RAPID Programme is in existence in Sligo town since 2002 and once again 2005 proved to be another busy year for the RAPID Area Implementation Team in relation to accessing additional funding and ensuring priority be given to targeting investment and resources that benefit the RAPID designated communities and areas. The primary focus in 2005 was on the provision of play and recreation facilities, childcare facilities, renovation of existing community centres, services to the youth, estate regeneration, and initiatives targeted at reducing anti-social behaviour. A number of interesting projects were undertaken including a RAPID video project showcasing best practice in relation to different approaches and focuses taken around the country to the development of a range of projects addressing community needs as identified by the RAPID Programme areas. The Video Project was undertaken in association with the RAPID areas of Tuam, Galway, Ballinasloe, Cavan, Navan, Longford and Ennis. The Cranmore Regeneration Project was selected in Sligo featuring the community’s experience to date in participating in the Cranmore Regeneration Project and the Cranmore Community Platform structure and remit. The video was shown to the RAPID National Monitoring Committee in June 2005.
The RAPID AIT’s role and remit was once again strengthened in 2005 in relation to their endorsement and involvement in the development of Sports Capital funding, CCTV funding, Estate Enhancement funding, Traffic Calming measures, and Playground facilities. Their role in Dormant Accounts was further enhanced through the Dormant Accounts legislation. Dormant Accounts has proved to be a valuable source of funds for projects that impact directly on the Sligo RAPID areas with an investment of over €740,366 from Dormant Accounts in 2004/2005.
Dream Chasers Community Playgroup Committee is a community led project based in the Merville, Maugheraboy RAPID area of Sligo Town. Funding of €743,000 has been allocated to this project by the Dept of Justice Equality & Law Reform under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Funding. The existing Centre will be fully renovated and will provide a range of childcare services including afternoon sessional service, full school aged curriculum, and 2 morning sessional services for pre school children. The service when completed will provide 87 part time childcare places and employ 5 full time staff and 4 part time staff. In total €1.45m was invested in Childcare facilities in RAPID areas in the past year.
The Equal IT project aims to develop and implement an ambitious digital inclusion initiative at community level in five selected RAPID areas – Sligo, Navan, Clondalkin, Finglas, and Dublin Northside. The objective is to enable ‘any woman living in the five participating RAPID areas‘ especially those most marginalised to acquire the IT skills necessary to participate in the ever increasing information society and to benefit from the range of social and economic opportunities new technology provides. Each participant is assisted to achieve an e-citizen award. Approximately 120 women are expected to participate in the Sligo Programme.
RAPID Leverage Funding: A number of Leverage Funding schemes have been put in place by the Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs in partnership with both National and local agencies for each of the designated RAPID Areas throughout the Country in 2005. Sligo benefitted from these schemes in the following areas:
The RAPID AIT’s role and remit was once again strengthened in 2005 in relation to their endorsement and involvement in the development of Sports Capital funding, CCTV funding, Estate Enhancement funding, Traffic Calming measures, and Playground facilities. Their role in Dormant Accounts was further enhanced through the Dormant Accounts legislation. Dormant Accounts has proved to be a valuable source of funds for projects that impact directly on the Sligo RAPID areas with an investment of over €740,366 from Dormant Accounts in 2004/2005.
Dream Chasers Community Playgroup Committee is a community led project based in the Merville, Maugheraboy RAPID area of Sligo Town. Funding of €743,000 has been allocated to this project by the Dept of Justice Equality & Law Reform under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Funding. The existing Centre will be fully renovated and will provide a range of childcare services including afternoon sessional service, full school aged curriculum, and 2 morning sessional services for pre school children. The service when completed will provide 87 part time childcare places and employ 5 full time staff and 4 part time staff. In total €1.45m was invested in Childcare facilities in RAPID areas in the past year.
The Equal IT project aims to develop and implement an ambitious digital inclusion initiative at community level in five selected RAPID areas – Sligo, Navan, Clondalkin, Finglas, and Dublin Northside. The objective is to enable ‘any woman living in the five participating RAPID areas‘ especially those most marginalised to acquire the IT skills necessary to participate in the ever increasing information society and to benefit from the range of social and economic opportunities new technology provides. Each participant is assisted to achieve an e-citizen award. Approximately 120 women are expected to participate in the Sligo Programme.
RAPID Leverage Funding: A number of Leverage Funding schemes have been put in place by the Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs in partnership with both National and local agencies for each of the designated RAPID Areas throughout the Country in 2005. Sligo benefitted from these schemes in the following areas:
- RAPID Local Authority Estate Enhancement Scheme:
Funding was provided to support small-scale capital works to enhance the physical environment within local authority housing estates and flat complexes in RAPID areas. One allocation of this funding is being spent on the clearing and site preparation of the proposed playground located on Devins Drive, Cranmore. The Garavogue area has also benefited from this fund with the enhancement of the green area approaching the estate including tree planting, lighting, benches and cycle track. - Playground Scheme:
Funding was made available to increase the range of public play opportunities available to children in RAPID areas. The funding is being used to develop the proposed playground in Cranmore with matching funding from the Borough Council and the community. - Traffic Calming Scheme:
Under the RAPID Traffic Measures Scheme 2005, funding was provided to support small-scale capital works to improve road safety in RAPID Areas. Eligible works included the provision of speed ramps, pedestrian lights, dishing and improvement works on roads and footpaths. A traffic calming scheme was provided in Cartron Estate area where a table top ramp and associated signing was installed. - Grants for Community CCTV Systems:
The grants scheme for Community CCTV systems was an initiative announced under the Dept of Justice Equality & Law Reform. Its purpose will be to support local communities who wish to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area, with the aim of increasing public safety and reducing the risk of anti-social and criminal activity. Under the scheme two successful applications were submitted and the Cranmore & Forthill areas received approximately €200,000. - Sports Capital Funding:
The Mercy College received a total of €325,00 to progress the on going development of their multi purpose sports facility. This brings the total amount of funding received by the Mercy College to date to €975,000 a combination of Sports Capital Funding and the RAPID Area Top Up Grant administered through the Dept of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.
