RAPID Leverage Funding

A number of Leverage Funding schemes have been put in place by the Dept Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in partnership with both National and local agencies for each of the designated RAPID Areas throughout the Country in 2006.

Sligo benefited from these schemes in the following areas:

Playground Scheme

Funding was announced in 2005 for the provision of Acorn Park, a children’s playground in Cranmore and this was formally opened in September 2006. A code of practice was developed by the community, for the responsible use of the playground by children and parents.

More play facilities were provided in 2007 – such as the featured I-Play Unit in Doorly Park. An additional item of equipment will be provided in Hillside Playground, Forthill to complete the upgrade of this playground.

In 2008, the RAPID AIT proposed that a new Children’s Playground be provided in Mail Coach Road.  This playground is now in place and is suitable for toddlers.  An attractive mural was also provided through Peace II and Sligo Borough Council funding.

Traffic Calming

Our Lady of Mercy Primary School area in Pearse Road, Sligo was seen as a traffic black-spot at school collection and drop-off times, so through the AIT an application was made for the Traffic Calming Leverage Grant and provision of a lay-by was soon completed. Sligo Borough Council matched funding and this initiative was provided in a very short timeframe improving traffic flow.

Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme (HES)

Preparatory works for the playground in Cranmore were necessary before the play area could be provided – so for this reason the HES grant was utilised in Cranmore in 2006.

The funding for the 2007-8 initiative was awarded to Cartron Estate and Fairgreen for environmental works including landscaping and fencing.

Educational Leverage Schemes

A new initiative was launched in 2006 relating to the provision of equipment, furniture and other small capital items. This was in response to requests by AIT’s for educational funding in RAPID areas. National and secondary schools servicing RAPID areas are eligible to apply for funds from the Department of Education and Science.

Dormant Accounts Funding (DAF)

A number of applications were successful under the DAF in 2006 including:

• Forthill Municipal Park - €200,000 was awarded under the RAPID Additionality Scheme
• Older People’s Measure – four successful projects were awarded funding namely Merville Community centre, St.Anne’s Youth and Community Centre, Sligo Leader Partnership Co and Social Services Meals on Wheels. Further applications were supported in 2007 under the Measure and are awaiting assessment by Pobal.
• ICT and Young People Measure – two projects were endorsed and both received funding for improvement of Youthreach IT facilities and for multi-media upgrade for a consortium of groups including Northside CDP and Cranmore Community Platform.
  

Other interesting initiatives with which RAPID was  involved in 2006

• WAVES (Domestic Violence Service) – a Support Worker has been working in RAPID areas with community groups and individuals funded by the Equality for Women Measure. This funding has also supported the Refuge Development Plan for Sligo Town.
• Sligo Inter-Agency Refugee Support Group – a measure to address the needs of United Nations programme refugees from Iran on their transfer to Sligo Town. This was facilitated by the Social Inclusion Measures Group of the County Development Board.
• Sligo Inter-AgencyTraveller Group – also facilitated and initiated by the SIM group, involving a number of agencies in work to avoid duplication and address gaps in provision of services for this target group.
• E-Citizen Women’s Computer Training Project – this Equality for Women funded measure involves local groups being trained in basic computer skills and passing on those skills to other women.
• Sligo County Drugs Taskforce – member of group
• Cranmore Community Safety Taskforce – the RAPID Co-ordinator co-convened this group which involves Gardai, Fire Officers, County Veterinary Officer and community members in designing solutions to issues affecting the estate.