Results 3,081-3,100 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: I know the way Deputy Calleary likes to use the figures against me. I listened to him and his party say all last year that I would not spend my departmental budget. I wish to put on record today that I listened to it from January to December and I never once heard any of them say well done. A total of 99.9% of my spend in the Department was spent last year. Deputy Calleary referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key initiative under the Action Plan for Rural Development and forms part of a range of measures to support rural Ireland under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration Programme. Since the scheme was introduced in 2016, almost €53 million has been approved for more than 670 projects across the country. I launched the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 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. In November 2018 and February 2019 I announced details of a total of 38...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department provides a range of supports to communities nationwide, helping people to participate in the development of their communities and providing funding to improve community facilities. I am aware of the current situation in Hartstown Community Centre and I know how important the centre is to the community there. Community facilities are funded from a range of different...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: Pobal is a not for profitcompany which was originally established by Government in 1992 as Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd. Charitable status was granted to the company by the Revenue Commissioners on the 20th November 1996. In 2005 ADM was re-named Pobal. In accordance with Section 40 of the Charities Act, 2009, Pobal was entered onto the Register of Charitable Organisations on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Land Issues (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy will be aware, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: Many Government Departments have responsibilities in relation to tackling urban disadvantage, through capital projects and income supports. My own Department has several programmes in place to assist disadvantaged communities both urban and rural, and in the forthcoming discussions on Budget 2020 I will be seeking to ensure that we can continue to provide supports to communities who need it...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The LEADER programme is very much driven at a local level by the Local Action Groups who administer the programme and approve projects in their respective areas. The LEADER programme effectively commenced in the second half of 2016, following the signing of Funding Agreements with most of the LAGs. While there were some issues concerning the administrative requirements at the start of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The current LEADER programme effectively became operational in the second half of 2016, following the signing of Funding Agreements with most of the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme. Projects must be selected under the programme by the end of 2020, while payments will continue in 2021 and later years as necessary. We are now making significant progress in the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The current LEADER programme effectively became operational in the second half of 2016, following the signing of Funding Agreements with most of the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which administer the programme and approve projects at a local level. At the end of June 2019, 2,130 projects had been approved for LEADER funding of over €75 million since the commencement of the programme....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: 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 the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The Walks Scheme currently covers 39 trails, with payments made to approximately 1,960 private land-holders to maintain those trails. No new walks had been taken onto the scheme since 2010. However, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to increase the number of walks covered by the scheme. In line with this commitment, funding for the scheme was doubled in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 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 2019, a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The first call for applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed in September 2019. Following the conclusion of the first call to the Fund in February 2019, a total of 84 successful projects had been announced, with funding of €86m provided from the Fund. This funding supported a total investment of €117m by these projects in rural areas. Of the 84...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department is currently finalising a five-year strategy to support the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland. The strategy addresses the need for an implementation plan for the 2016 Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland, as well as the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to develop a strategy to support the Community and Voluntary sector. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key initiative under the Action Plan for Rural Development and forms part of a range of measures to support rural Ireland under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration Programme. I launched the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 16th April last. Local Authorities were invited to submit up to 12 applications to my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Mountain Access Schemes (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The promotion of mountain climbing as an activity is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and other bodies such as Fáilte Ireland. However, my Department is very involved in the promotion of access to the countryside for recreational purposes. In that regard Comhairle Na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) was established in February 2004 as a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department operates a number of schemes that can provide small-scale financial supports and grants to community groups and organisations. These include the Community Enhancement Programme and the CLÁR Programme. The application processes for these programmes are reviewed before each call for applications is issued to ensure they are user friendly and fit for purpose. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: The LEADER Programme is delivered in each County by the approved Local Action Groups. The Cavan Local Action Group has approved 56 projects with a combined value of €3,171,877, since the beginning of the programme, from their core project budget. In addition, a further 13 applications seeking total funding in excess of €800,000 are at various stages of the approvals...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department does not sit on any interdepartmental taskforce in relation to crime prevention initiatives to deal with antisocial behaviour and crime in lower income urban areas and has no direct involvement in crime prevention initiatives. My Department's mission is to support viable, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. While the Department's role is not specifically...