Results 11,801-11,820 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy has asked a question about a commitment that was given in the programme for Government. When that programme was formed, the particular Department that the Deputy refers to was in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. A new Department was set up a year ago. In that Department-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: That was acknowledged in the reply and I am trying to acknowledge it again. The responsibility for the schemes that were promised that the Deputy is talking about is now in that Department. The community enhancement programme, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and all these programmes are now within my Department and the Deputy would agree it is better to have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 81 together. As Minister with responsibility for rural and community development, my primary focus is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across the country. This can be achieved through the implementation of programmes and initiatives that facilitate economic development through the creation of jobs and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: There is an investment of €44 million in community services programmes in 2018 to support more than 400 organisations. The Department also provides a lot of funding to the libraries programme and I know the Deputy is a supporter of libraries. I want to see libraries being used as community hubs to make sure that people will be able to use them across the country and that is what the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: A big issue, which we discussed earlier, is that of broadband. We are having some success in the roll out of broadband, particularly with the announcement last week of interest in competing or tendering for its future development, which is very important. A simple thing that has been a big help to local communities - I do not know if it is a big issue in the Deputy's area, but it is in mine...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The local improvement scheme, LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private and non-public roads. The scheme is currently funded by my Department and administered through the local authorities. Following on from the successful relaunch of the scheme in 2017, I announced details of the 2018 local improvement scheme on 27 February. I allocated an initial amount of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: This scheme has been one of my Department's success stories and I thank the Deputy for his kind comments. There had not been a local improvement scheme for many years. Last year there was a total allocation of €866,000. I am looking to see if the Department has any spare funding because this is a great scheme and is one that works well. The local authorities received funding in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The scheme has worked very well and I will make a quick decision on it. To be fair to local authorities, if they are to receive any funding, it must be soon so that they can do the work between now and the end of the year. Many people at the National Ploughing Championships said they were delighted to see the scheme and were looking for more funding....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department's mission is to support viable, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In that context, it has a central role in tackling social exclusion and addressing deprivation in all communities, both urban and rural. The Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland, published in 2015, focuses on tackling poverty, disadvantage and social...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: That is not true. With regard to the community enhancement scheme, I have brought that down to the local authorities. I refer to the local community development committees, LCDCs. The Deputy always puts his hands up in the air. He reminds me of an umpire who gets it wrong when the ball goes wide. He does not know where he is; he wants the cameras. I am going to give him the figures....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I love giving the figures because Deputy Ó Cuív hates the figures. He hates the truth. These are not my figures. The Deputy just hates the truth.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: One thousand six hundred and ninety-five people-----

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I will try not to upset them on this side of the House because I know they are very sensitive and they do not like to be criticised. I stand here tonight as someone who came from a social house. I came from a place called Fr. Angelus Park and am very proud of it. I was the first child born in it. There were 40 houses in that estate, out of which came the finest quality of people. I...

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: Dessie, we will have no bullying now from you.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: Sinn Féin has an answer for everything but no solutions. They collapsed their Government in Northern Ireland. They would not go into government in the South. The will not represent the people who want them to represent them in the House of Commons regarding Brexit. What are they elected for at all? They do not want to take part in any conversation. They do not want to take part in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The Government's three-year Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan includes a suite of measures to support our rural towns and villages, with a view to revitalising over 600 towns and villages over its lifetime. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. Since the launch of the Action Plan, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy is aware, my Department administers the Walks Scheme which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland’s walking trails. The scheme involves landholders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Waymarked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports around 400 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. More than €46 million is available to support community organisations under the programme in 2018.   The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department's Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, or SICAP, is a key priority for Government and aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally led projects in communities. SICAP supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020.  The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly this year, and 1,300 projects have now been approved for funding of over €39.8 million.  A further 324 project applications, requesting an additional €21.1 million, are at...