Results 3,541-3,560 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: As I said in a previous response, I want to see that money spent. The Deputy is correct in what he said. Projects valuing €966,000 have been approved but only €37,301 has been drawn down. I will have to get my Department to check this to see what is going on. If we consider Donegal, it has 104 projects to the value of €4,382,830 approved and €1,728,000 has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: Meath has 24 projects approved to the value of €966,042 and only €37,301 has been drawn down. I cannot do any more, I have made all the changes I outlined. The scheme is working in many counties. Many places are doing very well with the LEADER programme. I have been advised that 80% of the funding will be spent and the group in Meath has indicated that 50% of its budget...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: The county has got its allocation of €6.9 million but it has not delivered on the programme. I will get my officials to examine it. I would point to the Deputy's neighbouring county, County Louth, and what it can deliver. It has drawn down €604,897 while the group in the Deputy's county has drawn down only a little more than €37,000. There is something wrong. I will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Seniors Alert Scheme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: 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 towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his comments. He is right that the CLÁR programme is great. I can target it and look at ways to deal with rural and urban disadvantage to see what can be done. I have initiated a review of the CLÁR programme in light of the 2016 census figures. Many areas may not need to be in CLÁR now, but there are many which should be in it. I find that myself in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: The review has taken place. I hope that it will be completed some time this year. I will open the CLÁR programme soon and the review will not be done on time for these people, but it will be for the next round. It needs to be done. We need to consider the 2016 census figures. It has been many years since we reviewed the CLÁR programme and it is time that we did it. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: The 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme has a total budget of €250 million over its lifetime. Some €220 million of this has been allocated to the local action groups, LAGs, which deliver the programme throughout the country. The allocation is used by the LAGs to administer the programme and to fund individual LEADER projects in their areas. The remaining €30 million in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his comments. As I said to Deputy Calleary, the level of funding in 2018 is double the amount that was approved in 2017. That is important. We made many changes in the programme. I will give a straight answer to the Deputy's specific question. I and the Department wrote to the LAGs in October or November allowing them, in their programmes in their counties, to move...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2018 I launched the community enhancement programme which helps community groups to improve facilities in their area.  Some €4 million was originally available for the programme within my Department's budget for 2018. The community enhancement programme supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, such as childcare facilities, playgrounds, recreational...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy mentioned the Dublin issue in terms of poverty. As I said, in 2017 we allocated €2.5 million for inner city Dublin, €3.5 million for 2018 and €6.5 million for 2019, in addition to the funding we allocated for South Dublin County Council. The Deputy is right about his own constituency. In the Sligo-Leitrim area more than €433,000 was allocated....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Enhancement Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is right. This is a very good programme and I believe the funding was allocated fairly. I gave €125,000 to every local authority. I then looked at disadvantaged areas and gave 60% for those. I refer to 40% of the population. It was distributed fairly throughout the country. The funding can be used for CCTV equipment, energy efficiency projects or community amenities....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of designated CLÁR areas with the aim of encouraging people to continue live and work in those areas. CLÁR was closed for new applications from 2010 to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: Project expenditure under the current LEADER programme commenced in 2017, following the signing of funding agreements in the second half of 2016 with the majority of the local action groups, LAGs, which deliver the programme throughout the country. To date, 1,644 projects with a grant value of more than €55.8 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs. A further 355...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: Negotiations for the new LEADER programme are already taking place. I hope that, unlike every other programme, there is no gap in the new programme, and at Government level I will push to ensure there is no gap but rather a continuation of the scheme. On the drawdown of funding, as the Deputy will know, when approvals are made, if the LAGs present with receipts and evidence of work...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: We have made 32 changes to the existing scheme and we have made it easier to make applications and improved supports for groups that apply for the LEADER programme. The scheme works better because of the changes we made, as can be seen in the number of allocations made as well as those coming down the line. I am happy that the scheme works better than it was. As Minister, I have made all...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Isolation (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: I also have the community services programme which works very well. In 2019, €46 million has been allocated for that programme to support more than 400 organisations to deal with many of the issues raised by the Deputy. We also have social enterprises and voluntary groups targeting disadvantage, albeit sometimes they do not fit in with the schemes I have set out. I am carrying out a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: CLÁR has been very successful since I reintroduced it in 2016, following a number of years during which it was closed to new applications. Under the programme funding is provided for small-scale projects in rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. While the amounts available to fund projects under CLÁR are relatively modest, the impact of that funding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: CLÁR is a programme under which we have some flexibility which we use. Deputy Calleary was, however, correct in the issue he raised earlier. I do not want to start to take on matters which it is the role of other Departments to address. I had to do that in respect of the local improvement scheme when other Departments would not take on the role, with the result that no scheme was in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: I ask the Deputy to send on the details of the case and will get the Department to see why the school was unsuccessful in applying previously. Under the scheme support is provided for schools in the provision of community safety measures. When it comes to safety measures, there is some flexibility. As such, I ask the Deputy to send on the details and I will have a look at them. The other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Ring: In 2018 I launched the new community enhancement programme under which grants are provided for community groups to help them to improve facilities in their area. The programme is aimed at improving community facilities to address disadvantage. In 2018 I allocated a total of €13 million for the programme, which included €500,000 that was ring-fenced for a men’s sheds...