Results 10,961-10,980 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Meetings (7 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: A meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe took place on 6th April 2016, prior to the appointment the current Government, and a further meeting was held on 30th November 2016. I was not in a position to attend the meeting on 30th November in my role as Minister for State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.     Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (7 Dec 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 area. Funding...

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

Michael Ring: Last September, I announced the allocation of €10 million under the Local Improvement Scheme following consultation with Local Authorities on the level of demand for such a scheme this year. The Local Authorities were advised that any requests for funds would be subject to their capacity to complete any proposed works in 2017, and funding availability.  I announced a further...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Seniors Alert Scheme (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.  Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2017 CLÁR programme provided total funding of just under €7 million this year for 230 projects across four Measures as follows: Measure 1: Support for School and Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Play Areas Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure Measure 4: First Responder Supports Details of the approved projects are available on my Department'swebsite at . Decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services Funding (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: A €22m Libraries Capital Investment Programme is in place for the period 2016-2021 to support the development of priority projects submitted by local authorities.  In this regard, the programme includes a priority proposal submitted by Longford County Council in respect of Edgeworthstown library.   My Department is providing a contribution of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commencement of Legislation (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: A number of provisions of the Charities Act 2009 have yet to be commenced. These sections provide for a range of miscellaneous matters, including for charitable fundraising. My Department was recently assigned responsibility for oversight of the Charities Regulatory Authority and will be working with the Authority in relation to the commencement of these sections of the Charities Act....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authority Funding (14 Dec 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 sanction...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The proposed capital carryover will be finalised as part of the Revised Estimates Volume 2018. Government financial procedures provide for the carry-over of up to 10% of unspent capital funding from any year to the subsequent year. My Department has requested the carry-over of €7.7 million in unspent Capital allocations from 2017 to 2018. Capital underspends have arisen on some...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The total amount of capital funding allocated to my Department upon its creation was approximately €77 million. The allocations provided in the table below reflect the recently published Further Revised Estimates Volume 2017. To date payments totalling €48.7 million have been made, as shown in the table below. It has been impressed upon Local Authorities the need to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authority Funding (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: Earlier this year, I launched a number of schemes that provide support for the development of rural communities. These include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor/Rural Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme and the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). It is important to note that apart from the LIS, the rural development schemes are expected to operate over...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both contain a commitment to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor. The concept was proposed in February 2016 by a group involving a number of Chambers of Commerce in the Western region and the American Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. The overarching objective of the Atlantic Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Briefing (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: My ministerial briefing is available on my Department's website at the following address: This briefing was provided to me on 19 June 2017. Since that date, my Department has also been assigned responsibility for the Charities Regulatory Authority. Functions relating to the Community Services Programme are due to transfer to my Department on 1 January 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: While there is no specific scheme available within my Department to fund town centre health checks, the preparation and development of such health checks are eligible for support under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is operated by my Department. I recently approved funding of €21.6 million to 281 rural towns and villages under the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Travel (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 680 together. The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Since that date, I can confirm that my Department has not made use of the Government jet.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period prior to that date, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses. My Department is currently in the process of tendering for a photography service through the framework...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses. My Department has not used these services since its establishment. There is no specific internal departmental policy with regard...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses, with the exception of the information provided below. The table contains details of an external consultant report which was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period prior to that date, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses. My Department has no expenditure on advertising of Government information campaigns to date. However, at my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Michael Ring: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available within the timeframe to respond to this question. However I have asked my officials, and the organisations under the aegis of my Department, to provide me with the information requested and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.