Results 3,401-3,420 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Some problems arise with the local authorities. When community groups come to the local authorities they may find they are not actually in a CLÁR area. In any event, the funding must be used exclusively in a CLÁR area. It is illegal if a group spends that money elsewhere. The programme is quite specific and the maps and criteria are set down. I am having the CLÁR programme...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: It has to be done. The scheme has been in place for a long time.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I need to do that.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Mine is switched off.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: There is one technicality. One part of the CLÁR scheme relates to health and cancer care services. These include the mobile bus, cancer care transport and sensory gardens. I am allowing some leniency there. They must specifically operate in a CLÁR area but they can make the application from outside a CLÁR area. We are bringing the cancer care service bus to Galway. I do...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Under the scheme we provided some funding for buses and ambulances to transport cancer patients in and out of hospital.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The rural regeneration scheme is new. I have been reviewing it as recently as this week. On the previous occasion, we left the scheme rather open. We are looking to clarify some of the rules and regulations relating to it. The idea is not to make it more difficult to make applications. From his time in the Department, Deputy Ó Cuív will be aware of the difficulty involved. I...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Part of it is but the other part is in Deputy Ó Cuív's constituency. I wish I had got the right part of it back. Ballinrobe is a fine town, which I am glad to get back to my constituency, but south Mayo, which was assigned to Deputy Ó Cuív's constituency, is good country and I always did well in it. It has gone through a very difficult time but it has a great community...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I am glad to hear the Deputy being honest. He is right that more people are living and working in rural Ireland than ever before. He is also right about towns and villages. The shops that were there in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s are gone. They were challenged by multinational companies such as Dunnes Stores and Tesco and those that are left are being challenged by online retail, which is...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The LEADER companies are working extensively with communities trying to get them to bring in projects. With regard to the 25%, that is what has been provided. I would be happy to review this for the next programme. Of the 25% cost of the overall programme, a fair percentage is for administration costs. I would prefer to see more funding for projects but that is my personal view.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: On county managers and their projects, I told them that they would have to raise the issue of projects at council meetings to ensure the members were happy with the applications made. Deputies Fitzmaurice and Ó Cuív spoke about the dual mandate. Removing it was the biggest mistake ever made. The Deputies know my views on the issue. Taking Deputies out of county councils was...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Of course. There is no difficulty in that regard. I asked my officials to send it to all members of the committee and anyone who wanted it. I wrote to the CEOs outlining my Department's programmes and when I was opening them. They now know that there is scheme continuity. This is the third year. My Department has been in place for almost two years. Before that, in the Department of...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Anybody who wants to make a submission to the Department may do so. The programme is due for review and we will be getting somebody to carry it out for us. The same process will be used for the review as was used for the previous one. It involves the college in Maynooth, although the same people will not be used. We need to carry out the review and include some new areas. I think I have...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: The transport scheme was one I tried to get into my Department. I think there is approximately €16 million available for RuralLink between the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. My Department would be the ideal fit for it. I am sure it can be negotiated at a later date. This is a new Department and we need to...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I cannot agree more about the Tidy Towns. We are so lucky to have it. I just have to keep putting it on the record. All the Deputies have praised the movement this evening. Ireland is a better place and our towns, villages and cities are better places because of the Tidy Towns committees. I know it is probably not politically correct but I want to take this opportunity to thank SuperValu...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I shall let the Minister of State comment on the Dormant Accounts Fund in a few minutes. I wish to make it clear that we will not take the RSI unless the funding comes with it.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: I understand. There needs to be the same criteria for both. We will put a watch on that, as we do not want to be tied into a situation where we do not have the funding or where we get into difficulties because we are implementing the scheme but the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is making the ground rules. Regarding the CSP, we gave an additional €1 million...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: Is it €15 million?

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (3 Apr 2019)

Michael Ring: To be fair to the Minister of State, I will ask my officials to respond to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (2 Apr 2019)

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