Results 12,401-12,420 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 84 together. Social enterprises make an important contribution to Ireland's social and economic progress.  They deliver a range of services to support communities and disadvantaged individuals and use innovative and creative approaches to address social, economic and environmental challenges. As the Deputies may be aware, there have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy. I can see that she is frustrated but I want to be honest. I have pushed this policy but I must be careful. As a representative of a rural constituency, Deputy Connolly must understand this - social enterprise is brilliant. It creates employment and any profits are put back into the businesses involved. However, I must be careful not to upset the community sector. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: As already stated, we have made a lot of progress. I am very confident that we will publish this very shortly. In the context of the issues the Deputy has raised, I have to make sure that I get this right. We must remember that mine is a relatively new Department that has been in place for just 18 months. We have had a great achievement. Many have spoken about getting a social enterprise...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department is committed to reviewing all of its schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure the benefits are maximised for local communities. In 2018, I launched the new five-year SICAP to cover the period from 2018 to 2022. I provided €38 million to the local development companies that implement SICAP in each of the years from 2018 and 2019. Over the full five years I plan to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The original SICAP, which ran from 2015 to 2017, came to an end on 31 December, having helped more than 110,000 individuals and assisted more than 5,000 local community groups. In 2018, SICAP exceeded its target and assisted 2,558 community groups and 1,967 individuals, under goals 1 and 2, respectively, while the targets for 2019 are 2,273 community groups and 27,313 individuals, under...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I agree with the Deputy and he is quite correct. We will begin budgetary negotiations again soon and I will fight for funding for SICAP, the community enhancement programme and the regeneration of north-east inner city Dublin, which Deputy Curran raised earlier. Many communities throughout the country need funding and I will make no apology in that regard. At budgetary level, I will fight...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The current LEADER programme effectively became operational in the second half of 2016, following the signing of funding agreements with most of the local action groups who deliver the programme. As the Deputy is aware, LEADER is a multi-annual programme and expenditure typically ramps up over the course of the programming period. While concerns were initially raised regarding the procedures...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy knows that I have made every effort to try to improve the LEADER programme. I include in that a 55% reduction in the amount of paperwork required from the local action groups, standardised applications for those groups to assist in streamlining the process, revised and clarified procedure and new procurement arrangements for projects. I have made 31 improvements and a number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The procurement process is being reviewed. I do not have any difficulty going to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I am happy to try anything that will make the LEADER programme work better. As Minister, I have made more than 31 changes to the programme and it is beginning to work. If there is anything else I can do to simplify it, I will do so. I will speak to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The emergence of Men’s Sheds in recent years has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland. In towns, villages and cities which I have visited in my capacity as Minister, I am continually struck by the great work that Men’s Sheds do by offering a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where men of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: 12 o’clock I thank the Deputy very much. I know he tried very hard to get some funding ring-fenced for men's sheds. As I said, they are working very well around the country. Funding programmes are in place. I will look again at this area and if there are any savings in the Department, I will see what I can do in respect of capital works for men's sheds. The Irish Men's Sheds...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The TidyTowns competition was originally launched by Fáilte Ireland over 60 years ago.  Since its inception, the competition has grown from 52 entrants in 1958, to 883 entrants in 2018.  The continued success of the competition is due to the countless hours of effort from TidyTowns Committees the length and breadth of the country. As Minister for Rural and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: As Minister with responsibility for Rural and Community Development I am acutely aware of the issues faced by some communities and groups in applying for funding due to capacity issues and the administrative burden associated with the process. To address this issue, my Department provides support and guidance through for example, the ‘Rural Opportunity'information sessions...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy will be aware, the CLÁR programme supports communities in rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.  I reopened the programme in 2016, following its closure in 2010 for new applications.  The areas included in the CLÁR programme since 2016 were based on an analysis of the 2002 Census data by the NIRSA Institute at Maynooth...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: It would not be appropriate for me to give a view at this time on the merits or otherwise of any individual project which may seek funding in the future. I am considering what the focus of the second call for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund should be and I hope to make an announcement on this shortly. In advance of any announcement I am carefully...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The first call for applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed in September 2018 . There were 280 applications received, 126 of which were Category 1 “shovel ready” projects while 154 related to Category 2 projects - those which needed development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications.   My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Enhancement Programme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Last week I launched the 2019 Community Enhancement Programme with funding of €4.5m. The programme provides capital grants to community groups to help them to develop facilities in disadvantaged areas.  The amounts allocated to each Local Authority area for 2019 are available on my Department’s website. The programme is administered in each area by Local Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures for delivery across a number of Government Departments and Local Authorities to support the revitalisation of rural towns and villages.   The Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which is administered by my Department, is a key part of the package of supports.  The scheme was first introduced in the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructure projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The programme was closed for new applications in 2010.  However I re-launched CLÁR in 2016, and since then more than 1,200 projects have benefited from funding of €25 million under the programme. I launched the 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Community Services Programme, or 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 (FTE) positions.  More than €46 million is available under the programme in 2019.  Between part-time and...