Results 3,201-3,220 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The feedback I received at each of these events was overwhelmingly positive. The rural opportunity roadshow and campaign was a cross-Government initiative led by my Department. It was designed to highlight the opportunities available for rural communities to access funding for projects in their areas through the range of programmes provided across Government. The events took place at rural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The emergence of men's sheds in recent years has been fantastic for communities across Ireland.  In towns, villages and cities which I visit as Minister, I am always amazed by the great work that local men's sheds do.  They provide a safe and comfortable environment where men of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Irish Men's Sheds Association is a fantastic organisation and I compliment Deputy McLoughlin on putting this question. This has been one of the great success stories in Ireland, and not only in Ireland. The men's sheds movement is being brought across Europe to show what it can do. I see Deputy Connolly is present and I hope she will not now ask me about the women's sheds. If they...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Good.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My apologies, I will. Deputy McLoughlin is correct that extra funding was made available last year. With regard to additional funding this year, it is something I will consider later in the year when I see how my expenditure is going. I fully support the men's sheds. The organisation does a tremendous job for the Tidy Towns competition, communities and sporting organisations. Primarily,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: To answer the last question first, no LAG can go over 25%. It is 25% over the life of the programme and under no circumstances can it be exceeded. I will not give the Deputy all the same answers he has got before but I will say the following. He has asked a fair question and I will give him a fair answer. I refer to the new table that was distributed with the reply. Every time the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My understanding is that our profile is the same as those of most member states. Our profile is well up in the first five months of 2019 on the same period last year. I have no doubt that by the end of the year, we will see a major improvement on spend. I have to be fair regarding the companies that are allocating the funds. We have to wait for the schemes to be built and for the work to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My role is very simple. When funding is coming from Europe and being allocated to each Department, my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development is to rural-proof the spending of same at Government level. It is my job to make sure that rural Ireland and, as Deputy Curran consistently argues, the community sector, are given due consideration. The community sector is very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: That is why we provided funding for the Atlantic Economic Corridor, AEC, taskforce, which is advising the Government. The Deputy is correct in what he says but Commissioner Hogan understands the issues here. Indeed, at one time, he had responsibility for this Department and understands the difficulties and problems. He will be supporting us in every way he can. The Deputy is quite correct-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I do not have that power-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: All I can say is that he has done an excellent job and I wish him well but the decision in that regard is above my pay scale. The Deputy is quite correct to point out that it is important that we continue to focus on the rural and community sectors. My Department must focus on accessing whatever funds are available at a European level. The current Commissioner has an understanding of what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP, 2018-2022 receives co-funding under the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning, PEIL. Funding of up to €60 million for the programme has been approved by the European Commission, with €30 million in ESF funding being matched by €30 million Exchequer co-funding. A number of steps must be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: It is very simple. The regulation has not been made by Europe but we expect it to be signed in the near future. When it is signed, we will make our claims. As I said previously, in 2020 we will be reimbursed for the money we have spent. This is not the fault of the Department or the Government. The regulation must be signed by the European Commission and I presume we will have to wait...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy knows that I will spend the money. We will draw down the money later but the money is being spent now, which is the most important element. It is vital that we spend the money. We are committed to schemes which are aimed at disadvantaged children, young people and their families, disadvantaged women, emerging needs groups and so on. The funding is being spent. We are spending...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: No, nothing has been missed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million to be allocated over the period 2014-2020. While all funding must be committed by the end of 2020, payments can and will be made in subsequent years as projects are completed. This is no different from the situation which applied under the previous LEADER programme. To date, almost 2,000 LEADER projects have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I know that many people in west Cork object to a lot of things when they happen. I will give the Deputy the facts. Kinsale Library was funded, as was Banteer Community Sportsfield. Unsuccessful projects included those in Ballyvourney, Bandon, Macroom and Bantry, which were not shovel ready, while the Kanturk link road, Schull harbour, Ballinspittle and Skibbereen did not score well...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: There is one thing about them, which is that, unlike the Deputy, they did not object to everything that went into west Cork. I will put this on the record-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I want to tell the Deputy what shovel ready means. It means that the project is ready to go when it gets the grant aid. The county council sent us an application for a project and told us that it would be ready in the fourth quarter so it wanted us to allocate money for a project that would not commence until December of next year. That is not shovel ready. Shovel ready means that a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The development of Ireland's regions is a shared priority across Government and a core objective of Project Ireland 2040. The main EU funding streams for cohesion policy and regional development include: the European Regional Development Fund, which is managed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the European Social Fund, which is overseen by the Department of Education and...