Results 11,161-11,180 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, keeps me well informed about what is happening in inner city Dublin. I have had many meetings with her over the past year and I have dealt with many social problems. We provided some funding at the end of November for some areas that were experiencing serious disadvantage. I know well what is going on in inner city Dublin, which is why we set...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: CLÁR Programme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme is an important part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and makes a huge contribution to supporting the most depopulated areas in rural Ireland. Almost 900 projects have been approved for funding since I relaunched the scheme in the second half of 2016. The programme has funded a range of measures over the past two years, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: CLÁR Programme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I will announce it very shortly. I have written to the local authorities and set out a schedule for the schemes and their timeframes for this year. The Deputy is quite correct on the underspend. I have €5 million again this year. It is a substantial amount of money and I will look to see what I will finally allocate but for now I have €5 million in the budget. The scheme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: CLÁR Programme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: There is a separate scheme for the big towns worth €2 billion. I will set out the priorities of my Department in the coming weeks. I will announce schemes and I will look at new schemes as part of the CLÁR programme. Deputy Ó Cuív asked a question about the CLÁR programme. The programme has worked very well. In my county a number of rural areas are delighted...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Funding arrangements for the current Leader programme from 2014 to 2020 were, for the most part, signed with the local action groups, LAGs, which delivered the programme in the second half of 2016 and the programme effectively became operational from that date. The current Leader programme has an allocation of €250 million over the period to 2020, whereas the previous programme, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I agree with Deputy Kenny. I want to see the money being spent. I want to see the programme in operation. I want local action groups to approve schemes. There is no delay in the Department and I guarantee that once the payments are required they will be made. It takes a while to identify schemes. The companies get involved and the schemes are approved and payment is made once the work...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I made a 55% reduction in the paperwork. I have listened to the groups and people on the ground. I wanted to make the changes and I did so. We are reviewing the system on a daily basis but there is only so much I can do, that the Government can do or that the Department can do. The Leader companies have been given the responsibility and they have to roll out the scheme. They are the ones...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Kenny knows why it takes two years. One will not build a hall overnight and regardless of the facility it takes time to build it and then the receipts have to be returned in order to draw down the money. There must be checks and balances.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government has made clear its support for rural areas in Project Ireland 2040, which was launched last week. The overarching objective of the national planning framework, which is one of the strands of Project Ireland, is to ensure the population growth and economic growth that will take place up to 2040 will be shared more evenly across the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy referred to funding for Donegal, which received the third highest amount of funding from my Department in 2017. That was over €8.6 million more than my county received. The local improvement scheme, LIS, was allocated €3.3 million, CLÁR was allocated €589,000 and the town and village renewal scheme was allocated €1.15 million. These are the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Pringle sees the glass as half empty but I see it as half full. He does not like the facts. The Government has put substantial funding into Donegal and has tried to create jobs and keep people living in Donegal. I provided figures for some of the schemes for which I have responsibility. Many other Ministers have responsibility for other schemes. Donegal has a very bright...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Government's Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will contribute significantly to addressing isolation and social inclusion in rural areas. Specific examples of actions in the plan that will help those who feel isolated or vulnerable in rural areas include significant investment in the seniors alert scheme, which facilitates valuable community-based...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy has identified a very serious problem and one which my Department is examining. That is why I established the senior alert scheme with funding of €2.7 million. The UK recently appointed a Minister for loneliness, which shows that this is not just an Irish but also a European problem. The Deputy is quite correct. That is why we have active retirement groups, men's sheds,...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: That was one of the reasons we set up the Local Link service with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport last year. It enables people to at least come in and pick up their pension on a Friday. It allows them come into their town to shop. It is a very serious problem that affects society when people are busy and do not have the time to help others. I will speak to representatives...

Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his question. The local improvement scheme, LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private and non-public roads and it has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Funding for the LIS was limited in recent years due to constraints on the public...

Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. As I stated, this was under the Departments responsible for transport and the environment previously. I can see all the rural Deputies in the House and this is a very important scheme for rural Ireland. I looked at it because I want to do something and I come from a rural county. I listen to people on a daily basis. The Deputies made their...

Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I would not like the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to fall out with me. I would like him to do his job with the rural roads. He has made an allocation for roads this year and it has been increased.

Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I have dealt with LIS roads and provided funding. There was €17.4 million expended last year and €10 million will be allocated this year. The Deputy has made the correct point that the scheme will be open and local authorities know it will be there for the next number of years. With the increasing budgets over the next number of years, I will be able to put further...

Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Department implements a suite of measures aimed at providing direct financial support for the sustainable development of rural areas. These programmes were highlighted in the Action Plan for Rural Development, which focused on supporting sustainable communities, enterprises, employment and creativity while maximising our rural tourism and recreation potential and improving rural...

Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: First, I will be announcing the LIS shortly. Not alone will I be announcing the scheme, I will announce the funding as well. The CLÁR programme will open shortly. The rural and recreation scheme and the town and village scheme will open at the end of May. I intend to have projects in for July, probably, and I will make the allocation later in the year. Deputy Ó Cuív...