Results 11,361-11,380 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I will take the easy question first, that of the walks scheme. Actually, it is not easy, but it is one of the better schemes that the Deputy set up and it has worked well. We have 39 trails and 1,905 farmers involved in the scheme, costing the taxpayer €1.8 million per year. I told the Deputy during our previous Dáil Question Time that I was hoping to get more walks included in...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I would have no problem with that.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Regarding the rural recreation officer in the Chairman's county, I must be fair and say that the underspend and pre-spend that we gave to County Clare's schemes have all been spent. This shows that, where schemes have staff in place and are committed to rural development, the system works. The Chairman might compliment his council, as its schemes have spent 100% of the pre-funding that they...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Again.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I will hand over to the expert on broadband, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Fitzmaurice has raised these issues with me previously. Regarding the Tidy Towns competition, I cannot let this opportunity pass without complimenting everybody involved. This year is the 60th anniversary of the Tidy Towns competition, and what that competition does for small towns and villages, as well as big towns and cities is a credit to everyone involved. We do not thank them...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Martin Kenny raised the issue of the €40,000 grant. It is the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The proof that any scheme is working is that there is a major drawdown. That is why I am looking at this pilot scheme. There is no point in bringing in any scheme if it is unworkable. That is why I am looking at this pilot scheme in an...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I accept that we need further funding and I am looking at it. If there are any savings in the Department between now and the end of the year, this is one of the priorities I have. I am keen to introduce a little more funding for the local improvement scheme. To be fair, Deputy Fitzmaurice's county got €370,290 and undertook 56 roads on the Roscommon side.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: There are 27 roads in the Galway area.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Galway got €942,000 for 27 roads.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Ó Cuív has raised a valid point. I have already asked my officials to investigate it. Some local authorities are charging a 12.5% fee for each square metre. In some local authorities, the figure can be €13 per square metre and it can be €14 in others. In my local authority the charge is €20 per square metre. The explanation given at the council...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I am not saying that I am going to go private. What I am saying is that there is no reason the Leader companies could not look at it or why Údarás na Gaeltachta or some other State agency could not implement the scheme. I agree thoroughly with the Deputy. To be fair to the councils, they do an excellent job. That is not where the problem lies. It is not about the quality of...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Ó Cuív has given me an opportunity and he is right. I am keen to clear the record. I know about Connemara and Mayo. I know how the bigger roads are done. We also have another problem in Mayo in the sense that we have a large number of smaller roads and they may only cost €2,500 or €3,000. However, people qualify for the local improvement scheme and these...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I will take the LIS and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, will take the WDC. The LIS scheme is now open. We need to continue and try to get as much funding as possible. We know there is a major problem in respect of roads. There has been a major increase in the roads programme this year. We need the weather now for local authorities to start getting the work done and to...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy. If the Estimate can be agreed this evening, of course I will come back to appear before the committee to discuss any programme. I have no problem coming in here; in fact I like the committees. I will come back at any time once we know the programmes the members want to discuss. I have enjoyed today's discussion and have no problem coming back. It is important that the...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I am available and my officials are available. Once the Dáil is in session, I have no problem. I am available. I will come in once the committee gives me some notice and tells me what it wants to discuss.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: That is right.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: My officials are prepared to come in on any occasion. I am prepared to come in on any issue. The Deputy is correct. It should be approved tonight because we need it for the Dáil tomorrow; I need to get my Estimates done. I have given a commitment. If members want me to come back to discuss programmes B, C and D, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, and I have no problem in coming...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Once the Dáil is in session, I am prepared to come in.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (1 May 2018)

Michael Ring: The Charities Regulatory Authority was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. Its role is to provide effective and robust regulation in accordance with the 2009 Act. My Department has been assigned overall policy responsibility for the Charities...