Results 11,221-11,240 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts Data (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together. Pobal is a not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU. The Company operates under the aegis of my Department, which has an oversight and governance role. The overall governance arrangements between my Department and Pobal are set out in a framework Service Level Agreement (SLA). In...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan contains over 270 actions for delivery across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland. My Department has been liaising with our implementation partners since late last year with a view to compiling the second...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regional Development Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Pobal HP deprivation index provides a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area using data compiled from various Census. The Pobal index is compiled at small area, county and regional level. As such it includes data for the Midlands region. Further information on this index, and the index data itself, is available at . With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (21 Feb 2018)

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) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport There has been very little funding available for this scheme in recent years due to constraints on public...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Leader is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period.  LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.  €220 million of the available funding has already been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Broadband Scheme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department's mission is to provide a renewed focus on rural and community development in Ireland, and to put in place policy and supports to create vibrant and sustainable communities. The availability of a high quality, high speed broadband network is an essential component underpinning sustainable growth and development in rural communities. In this regard, my officials are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports 425 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. Funding is provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. The CSP budget for 2018 is €46.2m. Last week I approved total funding of €815,000 for 12 social enterprises providing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Administration (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The LEADER programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. €220 million of the €250 million approved for Leader under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 has already been allocated to each LAG area. This allocation covers the full duration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. There has been very little funding available for this scheme in recent years due to constraints on public expenditure....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Taoiseach’s decision to establish the Department of Rural and Community Development was an important one for communities throughout the country. It underlines the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the economic recovery can be felt by every community and that we build greater resilience for the future. My Department's role is to enable economic development through...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Government has made clear its support for the long-term economic and social development of rural Ireland in Project Ireland 2040 which was launched last week. The National Planning Framework, which is one of the twin strands of Project Ireland 2040, specifically commits to maintaining Ireland’s rural fabric and to reversing rural population decline. It also highlights the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department co-funds a Broadband Officer in each Local Authority to act as a single point of contact for industry in relation to broadband and mobile phone services. My Department has also established two Regional Action Groups to provide a coordinated approach to this work across Local Authorities and to identify and address obstacles to the rollout of telecoms infrastructure. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department has been established to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of coordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government in so far as it impacts on rural Ireland and on communities. The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan contains 276 actions for delivery across a range of Government Departments, State...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will support enterprise growth and job creation in rural areas. These measures will be delivered across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations over the period to 2020. The relevant measures in the Action Plan are aimed at: - growing and attracting enterprises and jobs, - supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Leader is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period.  LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. €220 million of the available funding has already been allocated to the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The new Public Library Strategy 2018-2022 is being developed my Department together with local authorities and the Local Government Management Agency. The Strategy is expected to focus on three thematic programmes - Reading and Literacy Development, Learning and Information, and Community and Culture. These programmes will seek to build on progress...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Telecommunications Services Provision (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government policy initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. Policy responsibility for the NBP is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. However, my Department is working closely with the Minister’s Department and with other key Departments...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in 2016, with funding of €10 million allocated for that year. An enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme was announced in 2017, with an emphasis on projects that would have a sustainable and visible impact on towns or villages and their environs, and could demonstrate economic impact or potential. In October 2017, I announced the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department was established in July 2017 and therefore I do not have details of the amount spent on rural regeneration since 2011. Rural regeneration involves a coordinated effort across many Government Departments and agencies and each relevant Department has its own budgetary allocation to support rural renewal. My own Department has a total allocation of €231.5 million for...