Results 12,501-12,520 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services Data (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Library membership fees and library fines have been abolished under successive public library strategies with the aim of removing barriers to library membership and use.  Membership fees, which included the cost of providing library cards for both child and adult members, were abolished in all local authorities since early 2017.  That said, some local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: In order to provide the data requested, I am arranging for the current and capital expenditure, for each local authority, since the establishment of my Department in 2017, and for 2018, to be forwarded to the Deputy separately.  2019 information is not available as yet.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I refer to my reply to Question No. 190 of 28th March 2019.  The position remains unchanged. The Deputy may also wish to note that on Friday, 12th April 2019 in Donegal I launched the second call for applications from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.  This current call, the closing date for which is 12 noon on Tuesday, 6th August 2019, is open to Category 1...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Agencies Data (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The following table provides the location of the State agencies and bodies under the remit of my Department by county; and the number of full and part-time persons employed in the four agencies : Water Safety Ireland, the Charities Regulatory Authority the Western Development Commission (WDC)and Pobal. *In the case of Pobal 7 staff are working in a home-based...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: RAPID Programme (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The nationwide re-cast RAPID programme and the Communities Facilities Scheme were launched for the first time in 2017.  €65,000 was allocated to and paid to each local authority area under each scheme, a total of €130,000 for each area and €4m across the country. In 2018, these two programmes were replaced by the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP),...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The funding allocated to and amount expended by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) from its inception on the 1 April 2015 to date is listed in Table 1. Table 1: Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Allocated €m 28.038 37.441 37.441 38.028 38.028 Expended €m 26.837 35.083 37.299 37.812 18.856 Table 2 provides funding allocations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme 2018-2022 (SICAP) is a €190m, five year national programme, delivered locally to help those in the greatest need. The SICAP vision is to improve the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed.  The funding allocated is set out in the table. The funding for 2020 onwards is indicative...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The scheme referred to by the Deputy 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 lands. Participant landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken, in line with agreed work plans. The scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (18 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. Data on employees since the establishment are set out for each year in the tables. Table A, employee numbers in each grade at year end in December 2017: Grade Total Number of Employees Total Number of Females Secretary General 1 0 Assistant Secretary 2 1 Principal Officer 10 3 Assistant Principal...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Are the Deputies opposite against rural Ireland? Do they want it or not?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: They are against rural Ireland. We want broadband in rural Ireland.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I am all for broadband in rural Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The EU Regulations governing the LEADER Programme stipulate that national procurement requirements must be followed when funding is awarded to project applicants. The national public procurement requirements developed by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) apply to LEADER projects where the total public funding awarded represents more than 50% of the project costs. For example in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Administration (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. There was no dedicated funding available for this scheme for a number of years due to constraints on public expenditure. However, I was very conscious of the underlying...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Grant Payments (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department operates a number of schemes that can provide small-scale financial supports and grants to community groups and organisations, these include the Community Enhancement Programme and the CLÁR Programme. The application processes for these programmes are reviewed before each call for applications is issued to ensure they are user friendly and fit for purpose. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I launched the pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages last October, and announced that six rural towns had been invited to participate in the initial pilot scheme. The scheme is being led locally by the relevant Local Authorities, in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, and is over seen by my Department. The 6 towns which were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Mobile Telephony Services (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: WiFi calling enables the use of fixed residential WiFi networks to make and receive voice calls. This improves coverage for those that have poor mobile phone reception, either through poor coverage or because of building materials impairing signal transmission. The 2018 Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce work programme (action 14) identified the value of mobile network operators...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September 2019.  €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. €315 m is allocated to the Fund for 2019-2022. Under the first call, 38 Category 1 projects and 46 Category 2 projects were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Funding for the activity referenced by the Deputy may be available through my Department, under the LEADER Programme, to support community and voluntary groups in rural Ireland. Applications for funding can be made directly to the relevant Local Action Groups. The group referenced can contact the Implementing Partner for the area of Kerry referred to by the Deputy which is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (8 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established as part of Project Ireland 2040 to support ambitious and strategic projects which have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion over 10 years to the Fund. The Fund is there to support capital projects which seek to deliver key outcomes, amongst which are...