Results 3,041-3,060 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. The community enhancement programme helps community groups to improve facilities in their area. The allocation of funding is weighted towards those communities in most need. It supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, including childcare facilities, playgrounds, recreational facilities, sports grounds, landscaping...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I know from where the Deputy is coming. We are speaking the same language and I would like to discuss the matter further with him. I am not having a go at him. In my view, I amalgamated the RAPID and community enhancement programmes. The Deputy will dispute that, which is fine. I accept that. The core budget line was €4.5 million. Thereafter, savings became available from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: That is true.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I do not disagree with anything the Deputy stated. We are speaking the same language. I want to learn from the programme in the north east inner city and see if there are measures we can bring to other areas, including towns and cities, that need support. The Deputy asked about the community enhancement programme. I will look at it again because I want that funding to go where it ought....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: All the money for schools and community safety, play areas, including the multi-use games areas, MUGAs, community well-being and support, first responders and the mobility and cancer care transport scheme was spent last year. Why must I and my officials write to local authorities to ask them to spend the money they have received? Why are elected representatives not up on their feet at every...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 31 together. The rural regeneration and development fund seeks to support ambitious, strategic projects which have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion to the fund over ten years and €315 million is allocated to the fund for the period of 2019 to 2022. I launched the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I want to be honest with the Deputy. Applications for the rural regeneration scheme close on 6 August. Department officials will assist anyone in putting applications together and will give advice on how they have to be done. However, no scheme or particular project would be discussed with any other Department. When the applications come in, they are assessed by an evaluation committee...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I confirm that the scheme is open and that funding is there. While anyone can make an application, it must fit the criteria in order to be successful. We do not discuss individual cases with anyone, in the interests of fairness. The process is there and any group, including the one the Deputy has referred to, can make an application. There is a process and an evaluation committee in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered high levels of population decline. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme in 2001 were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996. The Cooley Peninsula was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I again acknowledge, because I have always been fair, that CLÁR is one of the better schemes we have in place. My biggest problem is that I wish I had more funding for it. I need that funding now, which is why I am conducting this review. When I reintroduced CLÁR after many years, I brought it back in a limited way. The Deputy is correct and as Deputy Neville also mentioned we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The local authorities are one of the drivers. I will tell the Deputy about the real drivers behind any project, and we talked about that project in east Mayo. I refer to the town and village scheme. The plaza in Knock has given a lift to the town. The streetscaping in Ballyhaunis has given a lift to that town. Claremorris is a town that has seen much development over last number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on 28 February last and applications were invited under three separate measures. Measure 1 provides support for school and community safely measures; measure 2 provides support for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The only responsibility I have for roads is in respect of the local improvement scheme, LIS, which I have opened and for which I have provided funding again this year. At Cabinet level, I always promote and push for funding for tertiary roads. The Deputy is correct that it is an issue, and it is one we need to promote. I will talk to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Ross. The LIS has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I agree with the Deputy. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and his Department is looking at some schemes. The Deputy is correct in that we need to develop sewerage and water schemes. Many small schemes throughout the country need to be extended and, in some cases, new schemes are required. These are small schemes. My officials and officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The RRDF seeks to support ambitious and strategic projects that have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion over ten years to the fund, with €315 million allocated to it for the period 2019 to 2022, inclusive. Following the conclusion of the first call to the fund in February 2019, a total of 84 successful projects...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department has been in constant contact with all State agencies, local authorities and anyone who has received funding under the RRDF. I will answer the Deputy's other question shortly, but, regarding milestones, we have set targets. I am obliged by law - there is also an evaluation committee - to ensure we do not hand out funding until bodies reach milestones in procurement and being...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I opened the programme and amalgamated it with another programme.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: A previous Minister closed it. In any case, we will not argue about that.