FAQ’s:
What is RAPID?
The RAPID Programme is a Government initiative, which targets 50 of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. The Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to the 50 designated areas by focusing State resources available under the National Development Plan. The Programme also requires the Government Departments and State Agencies to bring about better co-ordination and closer integration in the delivery of services. Community and Voluntary participation is at the heart of the RAPID Programme. RAPID Structures have been devised to give communities a strong input into the plan for their own areas.
What is an Area Implementation Team?
An Area Implementation Team (AIT) is established in each of the 50 areas to develop plans for their area. The AIT brings local State Agency personnel (Health Board, Local Authority, VEC, Dept of Social & Family Affairs, FÁS, etc) the local Partnership Company, residents of the local community and, where they exist, Local Drugs Task Forces, together to prepare a plan identifying the needs of each area.
Who are the Ballyfermot AIT?
The following are members of the Ballyfermot Area RAPID Programmes AIT
Ciaran Reid Ballyfermot Partnership Co-Chair
Sean Moloney Dublin City Council
Alan Trimble Community Development Projects Representative
Padraigh Rehill Health Services Executive
Pat Quinn FAS
Henry Harding Decies/Kilmainham (A Community Representative Co-Chair)
Brenda Maxwell Drumfinn/Cloiginn (Community Representative)
Suzanne McLoughlin Cherry Orchard (Community Representative)
Antonia Murphy Carna (Community Representative)
Paul Lawlor Youth Service User Representative
Cwen Doyle Youth Service Provider Representative
Elisabeth O’Sullivan VEC Representative
Mairead O’Neill Social Welfare Representative
Pam O’Reilly Drugs Task Force Community Representative
Frank Dunleavey/ Gardai
Who selects the AIT?
The residents of the Ballyfermot elected four representatives in community elections held 2007.
A further two representatives will be selected from target specific groups. Local youth organisations and service providers elected a youth representative.
Statutory Agencies and government departments will select their own representatives.
What is in the Plans?
The plan is currently being compiled using the community consultation carried out in 2006 by the Nurture Programme in Ballyfermot to assess community needs. Using the seven themes set out by the Department, all information has been categorised and collated. Commitments are currently being sought from Government and Statutory Agencies to answer specifics in the consultation in order to produce a plan that is achievable and relevant to community needs. Proposals from these plans are approved by the Social Inclusion Measures group of the City Development Board and forwarded to Pobal for dissemination to Government Departments. Proposals are then considered by the relevant Departments. Each Government Department will consider the proposal relevant to their Department.
What are these Seven Themes?
1:Crime and Safety - Completed
2:Education - Completed
3:Family support - To be compiled
4:Youth Support - To be announced
5:Health - Completed
6:Physical Environment - Completed
Employment and Training - To be compiled
Completed plans can be viewed on the Ballyfermot RAPID web Page http://blogs.ballyfermot.ie/patteehan/2009/03/13/rapid-5-year-plans-on-health-and-crime-safety/
How will I benefit?
Everyone who lives in the Ballyfermot Area will benefit from the Ballyfermot RAPID programme through better sports facilities, better community facilities, improved recreational facilities, more integrated services providing faster response times to situations, etc. To date, over €6.7million has been allocated to Ballyfermot through the work of the Ballyfermot AIT benefitting more than 60 projects. These projects service your community and improve quality of life and increase life choices for you and your children.