Results 12,561-12,580 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: It is very simple. The regulation has not been made by Europe but we expect it to be signed in the near future. When it is signed, we will make our claims. As I said previously, in 2020 we will be reimbursed for the money we have spent. This is not the fault of the Department or the Government. The regulation must be signed by the European Commission and I presume we will have to wait...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy knows that I will spend the money. We will draw down the money later but the money is being spent now, which is the most important element. It is vital that we spend the money. We are committed to schemes which are aimed at disadvantaged children, young people and their families, disadvantaged women, emerging needs groups and so on. The funding is being spent. We are spending...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: No, nothing has been missed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million to be allocated over the period 2014-2020. While all funding must be committed by the end of 2020, payments can and will be made in subsequent years as projects are completed. This is no different from the situation which applied under the previous LEADER programme. To date, almost 2,000 LEADER projects have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: To answer the last question first, no LAG can go over 25%. It is 25% over the life of the programme and under no circumstances can it be exceeded. I will not give the Deputy all the same answers he has got before but I will say the following. He has asked a fair question and I will give him a fair answer. I refer to the new table that was distributed with the reply. Every time the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My understanding is that our profile is the same as those of most member states. Our profile is well up in the first five months of 2019 on the same period last year. I have no doubt that by the end of the year, we will see a major improvement on spend. I have to be fair regarding the companies that are allocating the funds. We have to wait for the schemes to be built and for the work to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The emergence of men's sheds in recent years has been fantastic for communities across Ireland.  In towns, villages and cities which I visit as Minister, I am always amazed by the great work that local men's sheds do.  They provide a safe and comfortable environment where men of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Irish Men's Sheds Association is a fantastic organisation and I compliment Deputy McLoughlin on putting this question. This has been one of the great success stories in Ireland, and not only in Ireland. The men's sheds movement is being brought across Europe to show what it can do. I see Deputy Connolly is present and I hope she will not now ask me about the women's sheds. If they...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Good.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My apologies, I will. Deputy McLoughlin is correct that extra funding was made available last year. With regard to additional funding this year, it is something I will consider later in the year when I see how my expenditure is going. I fully support the men's sheds. The organisation does a tremendous job for the Tidy Towns competition, communities and sporting organisations. Primarily,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: There are 400 men's sheds around the country and the Deputy is correct to say that it has been a fabulous organisation, which has taken off and is working. Instead of dying away after starting off, it has got stronger and stronger. I have had a number of meetings with men's sheds and my Department is looking at the applications from the national organisation. Many applications have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local and Community Development Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: After the last questions relating to social enterprise, I sent a copy to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local and Community Development Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: With reference to the Deputy's previous parliamentary question of 8 November 2018, a report on the LCDC review is being drafted by my Department with guidance and input from the LCDC review steering group and it is at an advanced stage.  The aim of the report is to provide a set of practical recommendations that address the challenges identified in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local and Community Development Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My officials and I are having robust negotiations with local authorities, which will deliver the scheme. I want to get it right and, as with the social report we did recently, I want to ensure we learn from the past number of years. I am very confident that I will get the report but I do not want to talk about what will be in it or out of it. I want it to be robust and I want everybody to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local and Community Development Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: A steering group in my Department is dealing with this. I guarantee that, when I go back today, I will ensure this group gets the report to me immediately. As soon as I get the report, I want to publish it. I guarantee that it will be published. The Deputy is right that this has gone on too long so I will start to put the pressure on now to make sure it is published. I want to make sure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The feedback I received at each of these events was overwhelmingly positive. The rural opportunity roadshow and campaign was a cross-Government initiative led by my Department. It was designed to highlight the opportunities available for rural communities to access funding for projects in their areas through the range of programmes provided across Government. The events took place at rural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. The rural roadshows were undoubtedly a great success. They brought together people who drew down funding from LEADER and various Government schemes. Community activists attended and explained how the schemes worked. We also sent the Helping Hands roadshow around the country. I think Deputy Calleary was at the event in Ballina that was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: We did take feedback. Sometimes when one listens to national media, one hears about what is going on in rural Ireland. It is a pity that some of the media did not come out to see what is actually happening on the ground. I visited the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's county, Donegal. The enthusiasm that was there and the number of people who turned up was remarkable. I visited Deputy Carey's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Reference was made there to more money. We could not give Deputy Danny Healy-Rae any more money. His machines are going 24 hours a day, they are not able to go any more than that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 46 together. The rural regeneration and development fund seeks to support ambitious and strategic projects which have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion over ten years to the fund and €315 million is allocated to the fund for the period 2019-2022. The first call for...