Results 13,101-13,120 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Funding (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The allocation under the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme to the Local Action Group (LAG) in Donegal is €12.9 million. This allocation covers both project expenditure and the administration costs of the LAG. Significant progress has been made to date in Donegal, which I welcome. The LAG has so far allocated over 64%, or €6.18 million, of its project budget to 140 applicants,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The LEADER programme, which my Department administers, is also through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the Department with lead responsibility for negotiations on the CAP reform process. Proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-27 were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission. However, given the nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (5 Dec 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 which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. Since I reintroduced the Scheme in 2017, I have granted over €48 million to the Local Authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in April of this year. There was a strong level of interest in the scheme and on 31st of October I announced details of 156 projects that have been approved for funding of €15 million. I intend to launch a further call for proposals under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in the new year. Details of the application process...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: A pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages was launched in October 2018. The six towns participating in the pilot are: - Boyle, Co Roscommon; Callan, Co Kilkenny; Ballinrobe, Co Mayo; Banagher, Co Offaly; Castleblayney, Co Monaghan; and Cappoquin, Co Waterford. Funding of up to €100,000 is being made available to each of these towns to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. I re-opened the programme in 2016 and, since then, over 1,400 projects have been approved for CLÁR funding of almost €33 million. This includes more than €855,000 for 55 projects in County Limerick. This year, I approved 179 projects to the value...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (5 Dec 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 Fund provides an unprecedented opportunity to make a significant impact which...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreation infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in Ireland. Earlier this year, I launched the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development does not have any persons employed on an agency basis. The Department has four agencies under its remit. The number of staff employed in each agency as of 3rd December 2019 is given below. Agency Number of Persons Employed Agency Number of Persons Employed Charities Regulator ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Isolation (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: I am satisfied that my Department delivers an effective package of supports which strengthen rural and urban communities across the country, including dealing with the issue of isolation, and that this will continue moving forward. Funding priorities are reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure our supports remain targeted at those most in need socially and economically. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services Funding (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department's budget for library related expenditure for 2020 is c. €8.15m. This will fund public library infrastructure and services with a focus on fit-for-purpose buildings, ICT capacity and supports for marginalised, socially excluded and disadvantaged communities, in line with the actions under the Public Library Strategy Our Public Libraries 2022 - Inspiring, Connecting, and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department provides funding for a range of rural schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, CLÁR, the Walks Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Each scheme has specific aims and objectives and collectively they fund a wide range of projects from small scale local improvement projects to high value...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 371 together. I am satisfied that through the various funding supports and policies being developed and implemented that my Department is delivering positive outcomes for communities throughout Ireland and County Kildare. In addition, my Department is committed to keeping under review the administration of all funding programmes to ensure they...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Heritage Promotion (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: There are a number of programmes within my Department's remit that may be able to provide assistance for the type of activity referred to by the Deputy. Under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Government has committed €1 billion over 10 years to support capital projects which seek to deliver key outcomes, amongst which are sustainable community and economic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Central Statistics Office Reports (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The CSO recently published a statistical report on "Measuring Distance to Everyday Services in Ireland" which provides useful insights into how close people live to everyday facilities such as schools, hospitals, fire stations, and public transport stops. The report shows that the average distance to most everyday services was at least three times longer for rural dwellings compared to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (5 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department delivers a variety of programmes that provide grant aid to community groups and organisations. The application periods for these programmes vary and full details of all relevant dates and deadlines can be found on the Government of Ireland website, gov.ie. Funding announcements are made following the processing and evaluation of applications in accordance with the criteria set...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (10 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Community Services Programme. The Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model, with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. Almost €47 million will be available to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Childcare Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: I can confirm that an application was submitted by the organization in question under the Small Capital Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises which I launched in September. The scheme, which is administered by the Local Development Companies on behalf of my Department, will provide grants of between €2,000 and €15,000 for equipment, repairs or refurbishments to enable social...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Recreational Facilities (10 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: Responsibility for payments to agricultural landowners under schemes such as GLAS is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department is responsible for a range of interventions in the outdoor recreation sector, including through investment in the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the ongoing payment of landowners for the maintenance of trails...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Michael Ring: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available within the timeframe required to respond to this question. However, I have asked my officials to collate the information requested and I will forward it to the Deputy in the coming days.