RAPID

RAPID stands for “Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development”. The programme is currently being delivered in 46 areas throughout the country to target disadvantage and to integrate services in local areas. The focus is on people working together, to make things happen through the combined efforts of the community, the voluntary sector, the City Council, Cork City Partnership, Cork Local Drugs Task Force, the VEC, FÁS, the Gardaí and local councillors.

The four RAPID areas are in Cork are:

• Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill/Churchfield
• Blackpool/The Glen/Mayfield
• Fairhill/Gurranabraher/Farranree
• Togher/Mahon

The programme is aimed at improving the quality of life in these areas and increasing opportunities for the people who live there. It is a collaborative process whereby the community and relevant statutory agencies work together to affect change in a meaningful way. In each RAPID area, local community groups and residents come together to discuss the programme and choose their representatives for their Area Implementation Team.

Each RAPID area has its own Programme Co-ordinator who works with the AIT to plan and progress specific actions to address the needs in their area.

In each of the RAPID areas in Cork, the AITs are working to implement the actions outlined in their plans. In addition,the AITs investigate new and innovative ways of delivering currently available services, and ensuring that funding is directed where it is most needed at local level.

RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning Investment and Development) is a focused initiative designed to prioritise and target government expenditure, to combat disadvantage and to integrate services in the most concentrated centres of disadvantage and social exclusion in the country.

As it has progressed, the Government is giving increased priority to the RAPID programme. The clearest evidence of this has been the level of investment into the RAPID areas and the ongoing funding initiatives that are aimed at specific themes.

Seven priority themes will guide the work of the RAPID programme for the next five years - family support, physical environment, health, community safety, education, employment and training and youth support.  

  Specific funding streams include  

• Local Authority Housing Enhancement Scheme (LAHES),

• Playground Scheme,

• Community based CCTV Scheme,

• Sports Capital,

• Health Leverage Funds,

• Equality for Women Measure – RAPID Strand 
  
• Dormant Accounts Fund

  These funds ensure that specific projects can be implemented to meet identified community needs.

Contacts.

Local Programme Co-Ordinators
Sandra Cogan-Williamson - 021 4924772
Paul McGuirk - 021 4924773 
Nuala Stewart - 021 4924774
Norma Murphy - 021 4924099
Assistant Staff Officer
Susan Skelly McGovern 021 - 4924596 (general office number)

RAPID CORK,
City Hall,
Anglesea Street,
Cork.

Fax. 021/4924074
Email: rapid@corkcity.ie