Results 12,781-12,800 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2017, I approved over €5.7 million in CLÁR funding to Local Authorities. To date, over €5.5 million of this funding has been drawn down; this equates to 97% of the total allocated to the Local Authorities. In 2018, I approved over €9.2 million in CLÁR funding to Local Authorities. To date, almost €7.7 million of this funding has been drawn down; this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2018, I allocated €20.8 million to Local Authorities under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). To date, over €19.2 million has been paid out in respect of the 2018 scheme and my Department is working with the Local Authorities to finalise draw-downs for that year. In February of this year, I allocated €10 million to Local Authorities under the 2019 LIS. To date,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: I allocated €21.6 million to 281 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in October 2017. To date, €18.3 million of this funding has been drawn down, which equates to 85% of the total allocated. I allocated €21.3 million to 224 projects under the scheme in October 2018. To date, €3.5 million of this funding has been drawn down, which equates to 16% of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure, and for the maintenance and promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural Ireland. The projects supported under the scheme range from small scale local infrastructure, to projects of significant scale undertaken at a regional level. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The Further Revised Estimates for 2019 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development provides for gross capital expenditure of €138 million. There was no capital funding carried forward from 2018. To date, €47 million of this capital allocation has been spent. I have set out expenditure to date in the table below against the total capital provision for 2019. At...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: 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. The first call under the Fund closed in September 2018. 280 applications were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on 28thFebruary last, with applications invited under three separate Measures: Measure 1: Support for "School and Community Safety Measures", Measure 2: Support for "Play Areas and Multi-Use Games Areas", and Measure 3: Funding for "Community Wellbeing Support". Community Wellbeing Support under Measure 3 includes the provision of equipment and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: RAPID Programme (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The original RAPID programme ran from 2001 and closed to new applications in 2011. In 2017, a nationwide re-cast RAPID programme was launched.All areas of the country were eligible for funding, and the funding was administered by Local Community Development Committees. In early 2018, my Department completed a review of the re-cast RAPID programme and the Community Facilities Scheme (CFS)....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The selection of LEADER Local Development Strategies, and by inference the selection of LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs), is subject to strict EU Regulatory requirements which mandate a transparent process, open to all interested parties. The Local Development Strategies and LAGs for the 2014-2020 LEADER programme in Ireland were selected by an Independent Selection Committee through a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the expenditure by project and administration costs under the 2007-2013 LEADER programme for each of the years 2007-2012. It is not practicable to provide details as of 31stAugust 2012, but the figures on the table reflect the position as of 31stDecember each year. Table 2 below provides the number and value of project approvals under the 2007-2013 LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local and Community Development Programme (6 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: I recently launched “Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024”. The Strategy sets a general direction of travel for Government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the next five years and beyond. It also...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector Funding (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The provision of funding and supports for the Community and Voluntary Sector is a key function of my Department. In 2019, funding of €12.687 million has been allocated for supports to the sector. In 2018, €14.974 million was invested by my Department in the sector. This represented an increase of €2.28 million over the original allocation and reflects my commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector Funding (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: I recently launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024.  This Strategy sets a general direction of travel for Government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sector and will be implemented in partnership with sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The two strategies which the Deputy refers to were published in July and August of this year and will support social enterprises and the community and voluntary sector respectively. The social enterprise policy will help to create an enabling environment for social enterprise to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress. My Department provides ongoing support for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: On 18 July 2019, I launched the first ever National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland. The Policy will help to create an enabling environment for social enterprise to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress. Support for social enterprises under the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) is primarily provided through the Social Enterprise Measure of the DAF Action...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The Mid Year Expenditure Report was published in July 2019  by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Report set a 2020 capital expenditure ceiling of €150 million in respect of my Department. This represents an increase of €12m in capital funding compared to the capital allocation set out in the Further Revised Estimates...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Mountain Access Schemes (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department has been working for some time to develop a scheme to indemnify private land owners, particularly in upland areas, with regard to the use of their lands for recreational purposes.  This is a complex issue and the legal rights of landowners must be respected, while trying to facilitate access to their lands for recreational users on a permissive basis.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Mountain Access Schemes (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: Comhairle Na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) was established in February 2004 as a non-statutory body with a primary focus on the priority areas of access to the countryside, developing a countryside code, and developing a countryside recreation strategy.  Under a Comhairle na Tuaithe initiative, in 2011, a Mountain Access Scheme to facilitate access to the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: The Opposition does not like good news.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Security of the Elderly (18 Sep 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is operated on my Department's behalf by Pobal, via a nationwide network of community...