A B-717 First Officer reported receiving an RA for traffic on the parallel runway while executing a visual approach to MSP.

Narrative

On a visual approach to Runway 30L at MSP; we received a TCAS RA as we joined the localizer just outside of the outer marker. The alert was in response to an MD-80 that was joining the localizer for Runway 30R just to the north of us and at the same altitude. The Captain responded to the RA in the fashion with which we were trained; thereby staying out of the RED no-fly zone of the vertical speed tape. When the 'clear-of-conflict' was heard after a slight deviation from the normal approach glide path; the approach was resumed with no further incidence.First and foremost; the traffic landing on the parallel Runway (30R) was never pointed out to us by ATC. Secondly; the ATIS for MSP only stated that visual approaches were in use. No indication was given that they were conducting converging approaches to the parallel runway. Also; I feel that the spacing on those converging visual approaches was way to close. They should have been staggered by at least one mile or more. Both aircraft landed safely without incidence; but communication between ATC and pilots' conducting such approaches needs to be more thorough.