Results 2,921-2,940 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff Data (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The Regional Development and Innovation Unit of the Department of Rural and Community Development is tasked with identifying and mitigating barriers to the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure, including the National Broadband Plan. The Unit works closely with Broadband Officers, who are co-funded by the Department, and based in each local authority, in support of this objective. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Data (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020.  It is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme across the country. Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced - effectively in 2016 when the majority of Funding Agreements were signed with the LAGs - amounts to over €69.5...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Data (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The LEADER programme in County Galway is administered by two Local Action Groups (LAGs).  The Galway West LAG, Forum Connemara CLG, covers the Connemara region and the off-shore Islands.  The Galway East LAG, Galway Rural Development CLG, covers the municipal districts to the east of Galway City.  The Funding Agreement for the LEADER 2014-2020 programme was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Value for Money Reviews (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I have set out in the following table details requested in relation to consultancy services engaged by my Department in 2018. Name Subhead  Invoice Date Amount Service Engagement KOSI CORPORATION LTD A.2 (vii) Consultancy Services and VFM & Policy Reviews 13-April 2018 12,822.75 Project...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Value for Money Reviews (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I have provided the information requested by the Deputy in the following table. These reviews were all carried out in-house (no external consultants engaged) and are all available on the Government website Gov.ie. Name of Value for money/policy review Date completed Cost Details LCDC Review August 2019 Zero The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Programme Data (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER, which is referred to at EU level as Measure 19 of the Rural Development Programme, forms part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period.  €225 million of this budget is allocated to Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (22 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.  The first call under the Fund closed in September 2018.  280...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Correspondence (17 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department is currently working on the Deputy's request. Any material identified will be forwarded to the Deputy when that process is complete.

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

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together. Since its establishment in July 2017, my Department has not been responsible for delivery of any projects costing in excess of €100 million; and I do not anticipate that any such projects will arise in the next five years.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I am aware of the current situation in Huntstown Community Centre and I know how important the centre is to the community there.    Community facilities are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies.  The supports provided by my Department help people to participate in the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Budget 2020 (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Budget 2020 will see the overall level of funding for my Department increase from €291 million in 2019 to €308 million in 2020. This will facilitate the continued delivery of key programmes for rural Ireland and communities across the country; and provide an additional €17 million to support priority areas. The breakdown of  the €308m Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Budget 2020 (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Budget 2020 will see the overall level of funding for my Department increase from €291 million in 2019 to €308 million in 2020. This will facilitate the continued delivery of key programmes for rural Ireland and communities across the country; and provide an additional €17 million to support priority areas. The existing programmes and schemes delivered by my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: Support for social enterprises under the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) is primarily provided through the Social Enterprise Measure of the annual DAF Action Plan.  A sum of €2 million is available in 2019 under this Measure and this funding will be fully utilised this year. My Department also provides funding from a separate measure under the DAF Action Plan, which supports the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Budget 2020 (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Data (16 Oct 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 allocation includes both core project funding and administration and animation costs for the LAGs. The remaining €30...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Departmental Outputs and Expenditure - Vote 42: Minister for Rural and Community Development (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the committee for its invitation to attend today to discuss the mid-year review of expenditure for my Department. Before I go through some of the details on the progress being made by my Department, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, has asked that I offer his apologies. Unfortunately, this committee meeting clashes with oral parliamentary questions for the other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Departmental Outputs and Expenditure - Vote 42: Minister for Rural and Community Development (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Chairman. Regarding the community services programme, as the Chairman said, funding is provided towards the cost of a manager. We provide €32,000 per manager and €19,000 per full-time equivalent. I wish to make it clear to the Chairman and the committee that we make a very substantial contribution. As I said, 400 communities throughout the country are being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Departmental Outputs and Expenditure - Vote 42: Minister for Rural and Community Development (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: The community enhancement programme and community services programme come from current expenditure and the spend will be drawn down. The Senator made an observation that I made after being Minister for only a short time. He is correct that some organisations have professionals who can put in applications on their behalf but others, which do professional work, do not have the same support so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Departmental Outputs and Expenditure - Vote 42: Minister for Rural and Community Development (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I will start with the review. Indecon is undertaking a review of the programme. I want to protect it, but I am afraid that weaker groups will be left behind. As I need to protect them, we will have to wait and see. The review of the programme will show whether we are getting value for money and what we can do to improve it. I also want to support social enterprises, which is why we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Departmental Outputs and Expenditure - Vote 42: Minister for Rural and Community Development (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Ring: I assure the Senator that, regardless of whether there is a deal or no deal, the PEACE programme will continue. It is a European programme. I have got a further increase in funding in respect of that very important programme this year. The programme will remain in place to provide support on a North-South basis regardless of what happens with Brexit. It will probably be needed more than...