Results 12,381-12,400 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (2 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme forms an important part of the Action Plan for Rural Development and has the potential to stimulate economic recovery and job creation in towns and villages across rural Ireland. The scheme is specifically focused on rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (2 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: In terms of social media channels, my Department maintains a single Twitter account and generally manages this on an ongoing basis without input or assistance from consultancies or other agencies. My Department has two initiatives currently ongoing which have availed of professional assistance in terms of social media and video production. The planned National Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (2 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department delivers its own public interest content through social media and on occasion helps to promote relevant messages and campaigns led by other Government Departments, for example, Brexit preparedness information and Project Ireland 2040 progress updates of interest. My Department also shares relevant items featured on the MerrionStreet.ie website and Government or...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Data (2 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020.  €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) throughout the country who deliver the LEADER programme. This funding is allocated to the LAGs for the full period of the programme. The remaining €30 million is available for thematic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (2 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Progress Reports on the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development are published twice a year on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. The most recent, Third Progress Report, was published in November 2018 and outlines the progress which took place in relation to all actions due for delivery between January and June 2018, or which are being implemented on an ongoing basis...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Irish Language (2 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department was established on 19 July 2017 and has recently completed work on its first Irish Language Scheme, which will be in effect for the period of 2019-2021 in accordance with the Guidelines outlined under Section 12 of the Official Languages Act 2003. I am pleased to confirm that the draft scheme has now been approved by the Minister of State, Seán Kyne, at the Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period 2014-20.  Some €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the local action groups, LAGs, for project and administration costs. The remaining €30 million is available for schemes to be delivered at a national level and is allocated as projects are approved. A total of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I agree with the Deputy. I have done everything possible to make changes in order to make it simpler for people, in particular those in the LEADER companies, to administer the scheme. Since I came into office, I have made more than 32 changes. The Deputy is correct that the inconsistency around the country is unbelievable. Yesterday, when I was going through these questions, I looked at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: No, I cannot give that guarantee. What I can guarantee is that I am putting pressure on the LEADER companies. As the Deputy knows, given we have LEADER programmes in our county, I can only do so much. With regard to administration costs, these people are getting paid to do the job. To be fair, there are LEADER companies doing very well under the scheme. When I look at this, I see that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: It should be noted that preparations for all the various Brexit scenarios are being led at Government level by my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney. The Government's planning for Brexit was initiated in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016. My Department and its agencies have fed into this process where appropriate and will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is right. In my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development, community is probably the most important aspect. We have a number of community schemes. The Deputy is quite correct. A lot of people are employed in some of these community schemes and they are very important. That is why we have targeted all the schemes that we have such as the outdoor recreation scheme,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: That is why last month my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, announced that the EU Commission has agreed a tenfold increase in the rescue and restructuring scheme budget from €20 million to €200 million. The Minister, Deputy Creed, is having negotiations with Brussels on a regular basis and Commissioner Hogan has said that the EU is ready to respond if there is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2019 my Department is providing €6.5 million towards the regeneration of the Dublin's north-east inner city. This investment will benefit not only the local community but the city as a whole. It shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the recommendations of the Mulvey report are implemented. The funding provided by my Department supports initiatives which are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I accept what he has said. There are many areas outside Dublin that could do with more funding to address disadvantage. What is happening is working very well. The task force is working on implementing the recommendations of the Mulvey report. It meets regularly and responds to Government. I have been to some of these places in Dublin's inner city....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his offer of support, which I will take him up on. It is important. The Deputy is quite correct to say that sometimes we target areas like inner-city Dublin whereas other disadvantaged areas in other parts of the country do not have the clout they should. That is why the Department uses SICAP and the community enhancement programme. Deputy Curran referred to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I launched the pilot town living scheme last October to encourage increased residential occupancy at the heart of our rural towns and villages. The six towns included in the pilot scheme are Boyle, County Roscommon; Callan, County Kilkenny; Ballinrobe, County Mayo; Banagher, County Offaly; Castleblayney, County Monaghan; and Cappoquin, County Waterford. The scheme is being led by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I note to Deputy Calleary that some people, albeit not him, misunderstand that the €100,000 funding is provided, not to carry out repairs and so on, but rather to allow local authorities to work with communities, chambers of commerce and community groups. I am asking them to look at how we can get people back living in towns and villages. Deputy Calleary noted the level of vacant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: With regard to the selection process, we could have picked any number of places around the country. We tried to get the right spread and size. In response to Deputy Calleary, the local authorities are the organisations that move the funding through but we expect that the communities will lead to get results. We give them funding and they can employ experts. A number of people have come to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Seniors Alert Scheme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together. My Department is responsible for the seniors alert scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Seniors Alert Scheme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: This scheme has worked very well. The Deputies are correct that there was an underspend on the scheme for many years. In 2011, €2.46 million was allocated and 7,910 people applied for and were granted assistance under the scheme. In 2012, €2.52 million was allocated and 9,142 applied. In 2013, 10,597 people were assisted under the scheme. In 2014, there were 7,120. The...