Results 2,881-2,900 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector Funding (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 296 together. My Department funds a range of programmes and schemes that provide financial assistance and other supports to eligible community groups and organisations in urban and rural areas throughout the country, including in Kildare. These schemes provide much needed funding, support and assistance to communities at local level. These include...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (24 Oct 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.  I reintroduced the LIS in 2017, after a number of years when no dedicated funding was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department was established in 2017 to promote development in both rural and urban communities. This is achieved through both targeted funding supports for communities and policies to support them in their important work. In August this year at the Fatima Resource Centre in Dublin I launched "Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-year strategy to support...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme forms an important part of the Action Plan for Rural Development and the Government's Project Ireland 2040 Programme for Rural Regeneration.  I launched the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 16th April last.  The closing date for receipt of applications from the Local Authorities under the Scheme was 28th June. Over 300 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Climate Change Policy (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The cross-party report on climate action was published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action in March 2019. My Department actively engaged with the work of the committee and also in the preparation of the all-of-Government action plan published by my colleague Minister Bruton and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in June. I have been...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Brexit Supports (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Preparations for all the various Brexit scenarios are being led at Government level by my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.  My Department and its agencies have fed into these preparations and will continue to engage across Government and with our stakeholders in the rural and community development sectors.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme was originally launched in October 2001 but was closed for applications in 2010.  I re-opened the programme in 2016 and, since then, over 1,400 projects have been approved for CLÁR funding of almost €33 million, including more...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development included a commitment to develop a pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages.  I launched this initiative last October and announced that six towns had been invited to participate in the initial pilot.  The towns in question are: 1.  Boyle, Co Roscommon 2.  Callan, Co Kilkenny 3. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2019, funding of €38.027m was allocated under SICAP for provision to the Local Development Companies that deliver the programme. Allocations in respect of 2020 will be finalised in the context of the Revised Estimates 2020 to be published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in December. However, in the recent budget I secured some additional funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department is providing a range of supports in 2019 which Men’s Sheds can avail of. Earlier this year, I announced a special ring-fenced fund under the Community Enhancement Programme(CEP) for Men's and Women's Sheds.  This provided €0.5 million for Sheds to carry out minor capital works or to purchase equipment. The amount allocated to County Clare under this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in predominantly rural areas. The scheme is funded by my Department and administered through the Local Authorities.  I announced funding of €10 million for Local Authorities across the country under the LIS in 2019. The list of projects which each of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Oct 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. Following the conclusion of the first call under the Fund in February...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020.  Total expenditure on LEADER since the programme commenced - effectively in 2016 when the majority of Funding Agreements were signed - amounts to €69.5 million.  This comprises: - €1.5 million in initial costs incurred by the LEADER Local Action Groups...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund Applications (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed €1 billion to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities.  The Fund has been allocated €315m over the period 2019 to 2022. The second call for Category 1 applications for the Fund closed at on 6 August and there was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Agricultural shows are a great celebration of all that is good about rural Ireland and they are an integral part of our culture. The shows provide a welcome boost for local economies and attract visitors to enjoy our rural towns and villages at their best.  Over the last two years, I have allocated funding of €1.4 million to support many of Ireland’s the Agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (24 Oct 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 is currently developing the next phase of rural policy, from 2020 onwards.  The new policy will build on the Action Plan for Rural Development. It...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: On 19 July this year, I published Ireland’s first ever National Social Enterprise Policy which aims to create an enabling environment for social enterprise to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress. The Policy sets out 26 Measures for delivery, including a commitment to establish a National Social Enterprise Policy Implementation Group. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017 as a whole-of-Government initiative to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland.  The coordinated approach of the Action Plan is achieving benefits in terms of increased employment in the regions and increased investment in projects and communities across the country.  Specific figures for job...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Gross expenditure of €291 million has been provided to my Department under the Further Revised Estimates for 2019. €132 million of this is allocated to the rural development programme area, with 93% of this being capital funding. At the end of September, current expenditure within the programme area is broadly on target, and capital expenditure is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Enhancement Programme Funding (24 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The Community Enhancement 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, I launched the programme with initial funding of €4.5m.  There was a...