Results 3,321-3,340 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Railway Stations Upgrade (10 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The question of reopening any railway station is a matter for Iarnród Eireann in the first instance, and I am aware that the Deputy has raised the issue of Killucan station with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the past. I understand that the regional fund the Deputy is referring to is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as delivered through the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (10 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy will be aware, CLÁR is an important part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and focuses on areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.  I launched the 2019 CLÁR programme on the 28thFebruary last. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (10 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development includes a commitment to developing a pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages.  I launched this initiative last October and announced that six rural towns had been invited to participate in the initial pilot scheme. The scheme is being led locally by the relevant Local Authorities, in close collaboration...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: State Bodies Data (4 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The following table provides the number and percentage of women on each State board under the remit of my Department on the date of its establishment, 19 July 2017, and on 8 March 2019. State board under the remit of Department of Rural and Community Development Male Female Female Percentage Charities Regulator 19 July 2017 8 6 42.9% Charities Regulator 8 March 2019 7...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: 12 o’clock I thank the Deputy very much. I know he tried very hard to get some funding ring-fenced for men's sheds. As I said, they are working very well around the country. Funding programmes are in place. I will look again at this area and if there are any savings in the Department, I will see what I can do in respect of capital works for men's sheds. The Irish Men's Sheds...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (3 Apr 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 who deliver the programme. As the Deputy is aware, LEADER is a multi-annual programme and expenditure typically ramps up over the course of the programming period. While concerns were initially raised regarding the procedures...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy knows that I have made every effort to try to improve the LEADER programme. I include in that a 55% reduction in the amount of paperwork required from the local action groups, standardised applications for those groups to assist in streamlining the process, revised and clarified procedure and new procurement arrangements for projects. I have made 31 improvements and a number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The procurement process is being reviewed. I do not have any difficulty going to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I am happy to try anything that will make the LEADER programme work better. As Minister, I have made more than 31 changes to the programme and it is beginning to work. If there is anything else I can do to simplify it, I will do so. I will speak to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The emergence of Men’s Sheds in recent years has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland. In towns, villages and cities which I have visited in my capacity as Minister, I am continually struck by the great work that Men’s Sheds do by offering a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where men of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The original SICAP, which ran from 2015 to 2017, came to an end on 31 December, having helped more than 110,000 individuals and assisted more than 5,000 local community groups. In 2018, SICAP exceeded its target and assisted 2,558 community groups and 1,967 individuals, under goals 1 and 2, respectively, while the targets for 2019 are 2,273 community groups and 27,313 individuals, under...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I agree with the Deputy and he is quite correct. We will begin budgetary negotiations again soon and I will fight for funding for SICAP, the community enhancement programme and the regeneration of north-east inner city Dublin, which Deputy Curran raised earlier. Many communities throughout the country need funding and I will make no apology in that regard. At budgetary level, I will fight...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 84 together. Social enterprises make an important contribution to Ireland's social and economic progress.  They deliver a range of services to support communities and disadvantaged individuals and use innovative and creative approaches to address social, economic and environmental challenges. As the Deputies may be aware, there have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy. I can see that she is frustrated but I want to be honest. I have pushed this policy but I must be careful. As a representative of a rural constituency, Deputy Connolly must understand this - social enterprise is brilliant. It creates employment and any profits are put back into the businesses involved. However, I must be careful not to upset the community sector. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: As already stated, we have made a lot of progress. I am very confident that we will publish this very shortly. In the context of the issues the Deputy has raised, I have to make sure that I get this right. We must remember that mine is a relatively new Department that has been in place for just 18 months. We have had a great achievement. Many have spoken about getting a social enterprise...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: My Department is committed to reviewing all of its schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure the benefits are maximised for local communities. In 2018, I launched the new five-year SICAP to cover the period from 2018 to 2022. I provided €38 million to the local development companies that implement SICAP in each of the years from 2018 and 2019. Over the full five years I plan to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: With regard to the selection process, we could have picked any number of places around the country. We tried to get the right spread and size. In response to Deputy Calleary, the local authorities are the organisations that move the funding through but we expect that the communities will lead to get results. We give them funding and they can employ experts. A number of people have come to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Seniors Alert Scheme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together. My Department is responsible for the seniors alert scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Seniors Alert Scheme (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: This scheme has worked very well. The Deputies are correct that there was an underspend on the scheme for many years. In 2011, €2.46 million was allocated and 7,910 people applied for and were granted assistance under the scheme. In 2012, €2.52 million was allocated and 9,142 applied. In 2013, 10,597 people were assisted under the scheme. In 2014, there were 7,120. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his offer of support, which I will take him up on. It is important. The Deputy is quite correct to say that sometimes we target areas like inner-city Dublin whereas other disadvantaged areas in other parts of the country do not have the clout they should. That is why the Department uses SICAP and the community enhancement programme. Deputy Curran referred to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I launched the pilot town living scheme last October to encourage increased residential occupancy at the heart of our rural towns and villages. The six towns included in the pilot scheme are Boyle, County Roscommon; Callan, County Kilkenny; Ballinrobe, County Mayo; Banagher, County Offaly; Castleblayney, County Monaghan; and Cappoquin, County Waterford. The scheme is being led by the...