Results 3,241-3,260 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Volunteering Strategy (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The development of a National Volunteering Strategy and a National Social Enterprise Policy are key priorities for my Department this year. In relation to the Volunteering Strategy, my Department has collated the information received from a Call for Input (CFI) exercise last December that was designed as a first step towards developing a draft National Volunteering Strategy....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (29 May 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. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. On 7th February last I launched the 2019 LIS and allocated a sum of €10 million to Local Authorities under the scheme. The number and location of roads...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (29 May 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. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities.  There was no dedicated funding available for this scheme for a number of years due to constraints on public expenditure.  However, I was very conscious of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 61 together. 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.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 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 funding is allocated to the LAGs for the full period of the programme.  The remaining €30 million is available for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local and Community Development Programme Planning (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Local Authorities are required to review their Local Economic and Community Plans at least once in their six year life cycle and such a review is now due on the current plans. However, the 2014 Local Government Act also requires each LECP to be consistent with any regional spatial and economic strategy or, as appropriate, regional planning guidelines.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I launched the pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages last October, and announced that six towns had been invited to participate in the initial pilot. The primary objective of the scheme is to encourage people to return to living in town centres.  This is part of a wider range of measures being taken across Government to revitalise...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model.  Funding is provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.  More than €46 million is available under the programme in 2019.  Between part-time and full-time...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Appointments to State Boards (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: A Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to Pobal.  Ms. Anna Shakespeare will commence in this position on August 6th, 2019. The process of appointing the new Chief Executive Officer of the Charities Regulatory Authority is at an advanced stage and I expect an appointment will be made in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (29 May 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. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities.  There was no dedicated funding available for this scheme for a number of years due to constraints on public expenditure.  However, I was very conscious of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department has made significant investment into communities and rural areas throughout Ireland since 2017 through the schemes referred to by the Deputy. In general, the level of allocations and expenditure under these schemes has increased year on year, and I am satisfied that good progress is being made in the delivery of projects across these programmes. In many...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Development Companies Administration (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: In April of this year, my Department commenced the delivery of a one-day training programme on procurement to upskill staff in the Local Development Companies (LDC) and the Local Authorities administering the LEADER programme. The aim of the training course is to equip project officers and other relevant personnel with the skills and knowledge to better assist project applicants in navigating...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: 'The Big Hello', the National Community Weekend, took place over the recent May public holiday weekend. The event aimed to support communities to host events in their local area in order to strengthen community ties and help tackle the issue of social isolation. The event was organised by my Department in partnership with a number of representatives of community and voluntary organisations....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: The Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. Funding is provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. More than €46 million is available under the programme in 2019. My Department recently commenced a review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Recreational Facilities (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Sport Ireland Trails (formally The National Trails Office) holds an insurance policy covering approved National Way-Marked Ways and Looped Walks, to protect landowners against claims for loss or damage from recreational users of these trails. The insurance policy covers trails that meet a specified standard, and includes all trails currently included in my Department's Walks Scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Comhairle na Tuaithe (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: Comhairle na Tuaithe (the Countryside Council) was established as a non-statutory group in February 2004 to address the issues of: - access to the countryside - developing a countryside code, and - developing a countryside recreation strategy. While Comhairle has been successful in delivering on its original mandate, an independent review of Comhairle na Tuaithe was completed in 2016 which...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department funds a libraries capital programme that will invest some €29 million in 19 projects, and in the My Open Libraryservice, between 2016 and 2022. Two major developments have already been completed under the programme with Kevin Street library in Dublin and Athy library in County Kildare opening in 2018. Moreover, two mobile libraries have been commissioned in Kerry and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local and Community Development Programme (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: A report on the LCDC review is being drafted by my Department with guidance and input from the LCDC Review Steering Group and is at an advanced stage. The aim of the report is to provide a set of practical recommendations that address the challenges identified in the consultation and strengthen the operation of the LCDCs going forward. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Funding (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 and has a total budget of €250 million over that period. The amount allocated to Co. Kildare under the LEADER Programme is €5.2 million. This allocation is provided for the duration of the programme, rather than on an annualised basis, to provide greater flexibility to the Local Action Group (LAG) which administers...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 154 together. My Department is committed to the successful delivery of the following programmes which have provided financial and other supports to organisations in County Kildare. Funding is being made available under each of these schemes in 2019. I would encourage community groups and local bodies to submit applications where eligible and I look...