Results 10,821-10,840 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Redundancy Payments (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: Local Development Companies that deliver the LEADER programme are private not for profit companies/non-public organisations. My Department has no role in the internal operations of those companies and likewise has no role in relation to staff or employment matters. These are matters for the Board of each company, as the employer, to manage. It should also be noted that my Department was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: Four state bodies fall under the remit of my Department, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority. There are no public buildings owned either by my Department or by any of the above agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: A meeting between the Director and staff of the Strategic Communications Unit took place on 5 October.  It was attended by myself, the Secretary General  and officials from my department. The Director of the SCU provided a briefing on the work of the Unit and the role it will play in improving effectiveness, efficiency and cross Government cooperation to foster and develop a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Websites (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development's website went live in August 2017 following the establishment of the Department in July 2017. As the Department's website is hosted on the Government network, no additional costs were incurred in building it.  The Department's website has not been revamped or remodelled since it went live, although it is anticipated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Websites (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: The website for the Department of Rural and Community Development went live in August 2017 following the establishment of the Department on 19 July 2017.  There have been no associated costs incurred to date.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: As a newly established Government Department, we are currently in the process of establishing all of the associated corporate functions, one of them being the Press Office.  At present, we have two Department staff assigned to press and wider communications duties who report directly to the Assistant Principal Officer in the Corporate Support and Management Services Division.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Training (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: As a newly established Government Department, we are currently in the process of establishing a Learning and Development Unit. Our development programmes and courses are currently being provided on a transitional shared service basis by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. As a result, it is not possible...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department has not used the services of any public relations companies or agencies for information campaigns since it was established on 19th July 2017. Four state bodies fall under the remit of my Department, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority.  The following table contains details of the services of any...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: I am satisfied that the necessary arrangements are in place in my Department for the proper management and accountability of grant funding provided by my Department.  My  Department has been assigned responsibility for the Charities Regulator, which is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. The general function of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Brexit Negotiations (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: My colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., has the primary responsibility for leading on Brexit negotiations. My Department is contributing on an ongoing basis to discussions and providing policy advice relevant to its remit as and when required. The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Seniors Alert Scheme (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is operated on my Department's behalf by Pobal. Following a review, a new version of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Applications (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department wrote to Local Authorities in August to establish the level of demand for a Local Improvement Scheme this year to support improvement works on private and non-public roads. Based on the feedback from the Local Authorities, on 21st September I announced the provision of €10 million for a Local Improvement Scheme on a national basis. I can confirm that I...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. In October 2016, I reopened the CLÁR programme to new applications for the first time since 2009, and all Local Authorities with designated CLÁR areas were invited to submit proposals for funding in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authority Funding (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: As part of the Government’s programme to support rural development, a number of initiatives including CLÁR, the Rural Recreation Scheme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) were launched during 2016.  In general, these initiatives were implemented through the Local Authorities. All funding was made available in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Expenditure (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development.  Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding.  The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: Four state bodies fall under the remit of my Department, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority.   Neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis have used the services of the company concerned or any of its subsidiaries

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: As set out in my reply to Question No. 633 of 25 October 2017, the then Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government agreed to begin a process of review of the current Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines in late 2015. The review was subsequently broadened to a more formal public consultation, both for quality assurance and to address the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Advisers (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department employs two Special Advisers; Mr. Daniel Rowan, with effect from 14 August 2017 by Government order dated 6 September 2017, and Mr. Seamus O'Ceallachain with effect from 11 September 2017, by Government order dated 19 October 2017. Both Special Advisers are appointed to my office and were not Advisers immediately prior to taking up their current roles. The costs to the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: LEADER plays a valuable role in supporting rural development and is an important part of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development.  I am committed to implementing the LEADER programme as effectively as possible. However, I am also conscious that concerns were raised earlier this year by project promoters and Local Action Groups regarding the implementation of the programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Ring: LEADER funding is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas across Ireland, in line with the Local Development Strategies developed by each LAG. Funding under LEADER is available for a range of defined themes, which include enterprise development and job creation, the development of rural towns, social inclusion, and the environment. The Social Inclusion...