Today marked the start of a government road show focusing on the regeneration of deprived areas across Ireland.

Communities Minister Éamon Ó Cuív will host public information meetings in each of the five towns recently included in the Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) Programme.

Last year the government decided to include Ballina, Co Mayo; Dungarvan, Co Waterford; Enniscorthy, Co Wexford; Mullingar, Co Westmeath; and Rathkeale, Co Limerick in the scheme.

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The RAPID programme is a focused government initiative to target the 51 most disadvantaged communities in the country.

Minister Ó Cuív said: "The availability of small area statistics from the most recent census gave us the opportunity to look more closely than ever at levels of deprivation around the country to see if there were particular areas that through demographic change in recent years should now be included in the RAPID programme.

"This government is as committed as ever to supporting the most deprived, vulnerable and socially excluded communities in our country. This is a priority.

"We are in this for the long-haul," he added.

(PR/KMcA)