Results 12,041-12,060 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. There was an excellent response to the first call, with nearly 300 applications received. Applications for the Fund are currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (5 Dec 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 (FTEs). Some €44m will be provided under the programme in 2018. My Department recently carried out an early consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department's staff are based in two locations in Dublin and Ballina Co Mayo, aside from a small number of regional inspectors based in a number of locations around the country. In Ballina, my Department shares accommodation with the Department of Employment and Social Protection and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, which is the anchor tenant for the building....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The project in question was funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme which is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in Ireland. On 28 May last, I launched...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seniors Alert Scheme (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Senator for his kind comments, which I appreciate because my Department is new and it underwent three moves of offices in the past year although we have a permanent office now. I have a fine team with a new Secretary General, three assistant secretaries and fantastic staff in Dublin and Ballina. I take this opportunity to thank them because they found it difficult that there...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seniors Alert Scheme (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Senator has a great concern about rural issues. I am glad to receive his acknowledgment. We brought in a few new schemes in the Department, for Tidy Towns, the shows, the men's sheds, all organisations that deal with the problems the Senator is talking about, namely, rural and urban isolation. He is quite correct. I want to see this scheme rolled out. We did put a fair bit of money...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. Certain programmes available through my Department may provide the opportunity to access funding for the types of projects outlined by the Deputy. The National Development Plan provides for an allocation of €1 billion for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over 10 years to enable towns, villages and outlying rural areas to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: Progress on the implementation of measures in the Action Plan for Rural Development is overseen by a Monitoring Committee which includes senior representatives of relevant Government Departments and key rural stakeholder interests. Progress Reports on the implementation of the Action Plan are published twice a year on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. The most recent report -...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The 2018 CLÁR programme was launched on 15th March last, with applications invited 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: Departmental Reports (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department, which was established in July 2017, has not published any post enactment reports.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Measures (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department was established on 19 July 2017 on foot of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 2017. The Department also has responsibility for the Dormant Accounts Amendment Act, 2012, which was passed by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, and signed into law on 11 July 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The grant and funding schemes operated by my Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme are listed in the table. Further details relating to eligibility criteria and making applications for funding are available on my Department's website. Name of Grant/Funding scheme operated Value (in 2018 unless stated):...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Deputy Calleary on his recent appointment. I am delighted to see him opposite me. It is well deserved and it is a great honour that I have the deputy leader of Fianna Fáil as my spokesperson. I am very pleased to have him and welcome him. The revised Estimates for 2018 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: All available allocations will be spent on my capital. I will guarantee the Deputy that. As I said in my reply, almost €35 million in capital was allocated in October and November. The Deputy is quite correct that I have reallocated resources required including the senior alert scheme, libraries and the LIS scheme. I have reallocated money to that already and am confident that my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: What I will guarantee the Deputy is that my capital allocation will be spent for this year. He asked a question. There is funding outstanding to different groups that they will not be able to spend but we have taken that into consideration. My capital budget will be spent this year. Anything that is not spent I have already reallocated in respect of LIS. The Deputy knows how important...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The rejuvenation of our towns and villages is a priority for the Government and is a strong feature of the national planning framework, NPF, and the Action Plan for Rural Development. As part of the Government's efforts to rejuvenate towns, I launched a pilot initiative on 11 October 2018 to examine how best to encourage people to take up residence in towns. The town centre living...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is missing the point. The point is a number schemes involving grant aid existed. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government had two schemes, but there was no uptake and, therefore, there was a problem. We picked six towns for the pilot. The €100,000 is not to do up any premises. The €100,000 is to sit down with the local people, chambers of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: That is the whole point. The Deputy gave me the answer in his question.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The answer is very simple. We are giving these towns funding to allow them to plan their futures. It will not be the local authority or the Department of Rural and Community Development, but the towns. I believe Boyle is in the area the Deputy represents. The people in Boyle are very happy. They welcome the €100,000 pilot scheme because for the first time they will be able to plan...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020. Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced, which was effectively in 2016 when the majority of funding agreements were signed, amounts to €34 million. This comprises: €1.47 million in initial costs incurred by the LEADER local action groups to develop...