Results 12,121-12,140 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Brexit Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, both of which were endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce.  I have not formally met with my UK counterpart to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The recent review of the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme 2014-16 and 2017-2019 identifies the need for better communication and awareness building with regard to the fund, including across Government Departments, potential beneficiaries and the public.  Specific actions taken in this regard include writing to Government Ministers at the start of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Parking Provision (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: Under the terms of the lease  (overseen by OPW) governing my Department's headquarters in Trinity Point in Dublin 2, 6 car park spaces are available for use by the Ministers and staff of the Department.  Spaces in the building's car park are allocated to all tenants  (including the Department) based on floor occupancy.  My Department's other main office is located in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 to 500, inclusive, together. My Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development, was established on 19 July 2017.I can confirm that, as of the Monday 3 December 2018, the staff breakdown of the Department and its agencies is as follows: Location Grade Male Female Department of Rural and Community Development Sec Gen 1 0 Asec 1 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. As Minister with responsibility for Rural and Community Development, I am leading a Department whose mission it is to help build vibrant, sustainable communities across the country, both in rural and urban areas. To do this requires a mix of policy initiatives and actions focused on enabling economic growth and development and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 510 together. My Department operates a number of funding programmes and schemes that are open to applications from relevant parties, including groups in the voluntary sector, who satisfy the relevant criteria during the application timeframes set for each scheme/programme. This includes a range of direct supports to projects in Co Kildare and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policy Functions (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The issue of isolation, whether in urban or rural areas, is one which requires a response containing a combination of policy initiatives and actions delivered across a number of Government Departments. For my part, I am committed to continuing my Department's response to the issue, which includes ongoing contact with local and community groups and other stakeholders where appropriate to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Surveys (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The remit of my Department is to help build vibrant, sustainable communities across the country. Achieving this goal requires a mix of policy initiatives and funding schemes to improve both economic development and to address gaps in meeting the social needs in rural areas, including isolated rural areas. The Action Plan for Rural Development, published in January 2017, represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The LEADER Programme is delivered to local communities across the country by Local Action Groups  (LAGs) across 28 sub-regional areas in Ireland. Under the current 2014-2020 programme, 25 of the LAGs are Local Community Development Committees.  The community-based Local Development Companies interface with local communities as the Implementing Partners for the LAGs.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Service Provision (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The availability of a high quality, high speed broadband network and of reliable mobile phone coverage are essential components underpinning the connectivity and development of rural communities in Ireland. In this context, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016 to identify solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and to investigate...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the TidyTowns Competition in 2018, I announced a grant scheme of €1.4 million at the end of 2017 to mark, in a small way, the efforts of TidyTowns committees all over the country who have given countless hours to make their communities better places in which to live. Over 900 committees availed of the grant in 2017.  Funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Recreational Facilities Provision (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together. My Department provides supports to help identify the need for community facilities in specific areas, and provides some funding for these facilities.  It supports Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) who are responsible for the delivery of the community elements of their Local Economic and Community Plans...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Parliamentary Questions Data (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department was established on 19 July 2017. There are currently three staff located in my Department's Secretary-General's office involved centrally in the processing of Parliamentary Questions (PQs). However, staff across all units of my Department are involved in inputting to PQ replies. In relation to bodies or agencies under the aegis of my Department, data and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: CLÁR was originally launched in October 2001 to provide for targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996.  The Cooley Peninsula was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. The funding allocations made available to the Department are published each year in the Revised Estimates Volume. The Revised Estimates Volume 2018 is available here: . The 2019 Revised Estimates Volume will be published shortly by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The outturn for the Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I can confirm that permission has not been sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to carryover unspent capital to 2019 as a full spend for departmental capital programmes is anticipated this year.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (18 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 with €55 million allocated to the fund in Budget 2019. I announced the first 18 successful projects under the Fund on the 23 November....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy is aware my Department is currently examining a report on the matter referred to and as such, it would be inappropriate for me to meet with any organisations pending the outcome of that examination. That said, officials from my Department and Pobal have met with representatives from the companies in question and there is also ongoing contact via phone calls and emails.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (18 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. The applications are currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Funding (18 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020. Funding to cover the full period of the programme has been allocated to each of the individual Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver LEADER. Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the projects approved by each Local Action Group together with details of the project payments made to...