Results 11,481-11,500 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (8 May 2018)

Michael Ring: CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on 15th March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures: Measure 1:Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2:Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services Funding (9 May 2018)

Michael Ring: The provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is generally a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the development of the new library in Portlaoise is primarily a matter for Laois County Council. That said, my Department funds a Libraries Capital Investment Programme that will invest...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (9 May 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 261, inclusive, together. My Department’s Capital allocation to 2022 is as follows: - 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Total Capital Allocation 88* 141 150 152 175 * + 7.7 Capital Carryover My Department provides funding at programme level to support local authorities and others in the delivery of individual projects. In respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (10 May 2018)

Michael Ring: The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions.  Some €46m will be provided under the programme in 2018. The organisation in question is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (10 May 2018)

Michael Ring: 2018 is a very special year for the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition as it marks the 60thAnniversary of what has been a very successful Government initiative. The work done by the TidyTowns committees down through the years has played an important part in the improvement of the appearance of our villages, towns and cities around the country. To mark the 60thanniversary of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts Data (15 May 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department was established in July 2017 and has had no involvement, contractual or otherwise, with the companies in question.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework (15 May 2018)

Michael Ring: The Government published Project Ireland 2040 which incorporates the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the 10-year National Development Plan (NDP) in February 2018. Project Ireland prioritises the wellbeing of all of our people, wherever they live and whatever their background. The NPF seeks to ensure that the population and economic growth which will take place in Ireland to 2040 is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (15 May 2018)

Michael Ring: CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on 15 March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures: - Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures - Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (15 May 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department was established in July 2017 to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of coordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government insofar as it impacts on rural Ireland and communities. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., has the primary responsibility for leading on North South issues....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Scheme to Support National Organisations (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) has a primary focus on the provision of core funding to national organisations that demonstrate good governance and deliver services and supports that have a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. The current scheme is due to close in 2019 and my Department has invited submissions...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: Section 75 (1) of the Charities Act 2009 provides for the establishment of the Charities Appeal Tribunal. The role of the Charity Appeals Tribunal is to hear and adjudicate on appeals against certain decisions of the Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’). I have recently consented to the making of the rules for the Appeals Tribunal to conduct future...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: I am very pleased to meet the joint committee today to resume our discussions on my Department's Estimates for 2018. We had a very constructive and productive select committee meeting in April and I thank members for their suggestions. I look forward to continuing that discussion today. We are focusing today on the community programme and the Charities Regulator. I will say only a few...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: With regard to SICAP, in comparing any figures with those of 2008 we must remember what happened then. We had one of the biggest recessions since the foundation of the State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, commenced again in 2015. I announced that €190 million over five years had been secured, which is a substantial amount of money. We are trying to target disadvantage and the people who have been left behind. The unemployment rate has come down from 15% to under 5%. Now we need to target others. Recently, I was in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: One of the questions raised was about a comparison of the moneys spent since 2008 and under the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, to date. As the first such programme commenced in 2015, there cannot be a comparison. The funding available in every county under the 2018 to 2022 programme has slightly increased. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked what had...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Collins asked a question about small farmers. He is quite correct: farmers have had a very difficult year - a difficult few years. SICAP includes a scheme for low-income householders, which would include farmers, so they are targeted as well. There should and can be a scheme for them. As for the issue Deputy Collins raised regarding the CSP, I note the valid point he makes about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: SICAP and the communities programme are valuable programmes. Regarding SICAP, I gave the committee the figures earlier, including the number of people involved. It is not really about volumes; it is more about targeting the people in need. In this particular round, we want to ensure we target the people most in need, the people who need to be targeted now. Before SICAP was announced, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Ó Cuív makes some valid points. I do not disagree with some of them but I must explain where we are in the Department on them. The Deputy is correct in his comments on the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP. More jobs are being created. One never likes to say it but some people are quite happy to be on schemes, such as the rural social schemes or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: It does. We must ensure the people most in need are targeted and programmes are set up to give them the opportunity to be able to get the education and skills they need. I pointed out the success of the last round of the programme. The Deputy mentioned community employment schemes and we must review them. I would like the committee to invite departmental personnel to speak to this....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Michael Ring: I am not saying that. I can give the figures for the RAPID programme.