Results 12,581-12,600 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

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

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputies. In response to Deputy Calleary, contractual agreements are entered into in respect of these schemes and timeframes are set out. The latter include milestones for when funding can be drawn down in the major schemes. I hope that no local authority made an application without having matching funding ready. Under the contracts, the work must be done. These are...

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

Michael Ring: I have dealt with some local authorities which had led council members to believe that projects were shovel ready when they were not. Anything that was shovel ready was considered. Deputy Carey is quite correct that this is a great scheme. The funding is €1 billion over ten years and €315 million between 2019 and 2022. This scheme is going to work. These are major...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Communities across the country can access many different sources of funding and supports and I am delighted that many of these are delivered by my Department.  The recent series of regional Rural Opportunity events highlighted the funding opportunities available to those in rural communities across Government. It was inspiring at these events to hear from people who have used...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Since I relaunched the programme in 2016, more than 1,200 projects have been approved funding of almost €27 million. I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on the 28thof February last, and invited applications...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Enhancement Programme Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2018, I launched the Community Enhancement Programme with initial funding of €4.5m. The programme helps community groups to improve facilities in their area. It supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, such as childcare facilities, playgrounds, recreational facilities, sports grounds, landscaping projects, and supports for the elderly.  in 2018, there was a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy is aware, the Government has agreed to the re-allocation of €99 million in capital funding to accommodate the additional 2019 capital costs associated with the National Children’s Hospital Project. In this context, it has been agreed to re-schedule €3 million in capital expenditure in relation to the  Rural Regeneration and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key initiative under the Action Plan for Rural Development and forms part of a range of measures to support rural Ireland under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration Programme. Since the scheme was introduced in 2016, almost €53 million has been approved for more than 670 projects across the country.  I launched...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Government's Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017 as a three-year plan to support the economic and social development of rural Ireland.  The Action Plan runs to the end of 2019, and my Department has now commenced work on developing the next phase of rural policy, from 2020 onwards.  As part of this process, my Department is holding a series of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Greenways Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Since I introduced funding for Outdoor Recreation infrastructure developments in 2016, I have approved almost 600 projects for funding of over €41 million.  This funding has gone to walkways, blueways, greenways, trails and other outdoor infrastructure projects around the country. In 2016, Leitrim County Council received €401,354 in funding for 3 projects under the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructure projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.  I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on 28thFebruary last, with a closing date of 25thApril for applications.   Almost 500 applications were received by my Department and my officials are currently assessing all of these...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a budget of €250 million for the period 2014-2020.  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. The volume of LEADER project approvals has increased substantially since the beginning of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Western Development Commission Remit (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Programme for a Partnership Government committed to both strengthening the role of the Western Development Commission (WDC) and to developing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative.  As the Programme for Government has been implemented, my Department has built on the synergies between these two objectives. My Department has been working with Board and Chief Executive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Earlier this year, I received an invitation from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to input into the Office of Government Procurement’s (OGP’s) review of the Public Procurement Programme. My Department wrote to the OGP in response to this request to suggest that consideration should be given to adopting a more simplified process under procurement rules for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 57 together. Pobal is a not for profit company which was originally established by Government in 1992 as Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd.  Charitable status was granted to the company by the Revenue Commissioners on the 20th November 1996.  In 2005 ADM was re-named Pobal.  In accordance with Section 40 of the Charities...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Volunteering Strategy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The development of a National Volunteering Strategy and a National Social Enterprise Policy are key priorities for my Department this year. In relation to the Volunteering Strategy, my Department has collated the information received from a Call for Input (CFI) exercise last December that was designed as a first step towards developing a draft National Volunteering Strategy....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (29 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. On 7th February last I launched the 2019 LIS and allocated a sum of €10 million to Local Authorities under the scheme. The number and location of roads...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (29 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 61 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 10 years to the Fund and €315 million is allocated to the Fund for the period 2019-2022.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Local Authorities are required to review their Local Economic and Community Plans at least once in their six year life cycle and such a review is now due on the current plans. However, the 2014 Local Government Act also requires each LECP to be consistent with any regional spatial and economic strategy or, as appropriate, regional planning guidelines.  The...