Results 3,701-3,720 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Closures (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, has policy responsibility for the postal sector. However, I am acutely aware of the value placed by rural communities on services such as the local post office. Investment in rural Ireland is taking place right across Government. The Action Plan for Rural Development is a comprehensive cross-Government plan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: 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. It is a programme that provides modest amounts of money for small scale initiatives in rural areas, but the impact of the funding for these areas is huge. CLÁR was effectively closed for new applications in 2010....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme is one of the better programmes introduced over the years. While I have differences with my colleague across the floor, it was one of the better schemes introduced. It was closed from 2010. I am reviewing the schemes and I am looking to identify schemes that will be supportive of rural areas and of communities that are not able to get the support they need from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: CLÁR Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy mentioned the outdoor recreation scheme and the town and village scheme, which have all worked very well. I must be careful that other Departments do not see this as a mechanism to allow them not to do what they should be doing. Deputy Neville is correct: I need to get my Department to act. I have asked my officials to meet with other Departments. I am already aware that some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: In fairness, over the past few years the local authorities have begun to engage with communities, and communities are beginning to work with the local authorities. On some of the schemes I mentioned, one can see there are good community groups in every corner of the country . One issue I encounter in all the schemes, however, is applications from groups which are well able to draw down...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Data (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy lobbied hard for the scheme, which did not exist for many years. The LIS is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas. It is funded by my Department and administered through the local authorities. As the Deputy may be aware, there was no dedicated funding for the scheme for a number of years due to constraints on public expenditure....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Data (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I am currently considering the LIS scheme, along with all of my schemes. I receive much criticism of the LIS scheme from certain sections of the Dublin-based media, but they will never have to worry about an LIS road or look for private funding because Dublin City Council, Dublin County Council or whatever the case may be will address the matter for them. As the Deputy knows, people in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Data (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I am reviewing, and will continue to review, the scheme, and I will examine the point the Deputy raised. When I came into office, I reduced the local contribution to 15% for five houses or more, while I reduced it to 10% for five houses or fewer. The Deputy raised an important point that causes a significant problem in many areas where there are large roads but there may be only one or two...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy knows, spending under the LEADER programme takes a while to ramp up. To date, €35.5 million of the programme budget has been spent since it commenced. I am expecting that by the end of this year, a total of €24.5 million of that funding will be spent. Every LEADER programme takes a while to ramp up because the local action groups, LAGs, or LEADER companies have...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I am monitoring this closely. To be fair, my Department is not holding back progress. When the Department gets receipts, it pays out the funds as quickly as possible. In response to the Deputy's specific questions, some of the LEADER companies around the country have done very well. In Mayo, for example, 88 projects have been approved with a total value of €3.689 million and to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: Substantial progress continues to be made in improving the quality of life in communities throughout Ireland, both rural and urban. As the Minister with responsibility for rural and community development, it is my intention that the many supports available through my Department will continue to improve conditions in these communities into the future so that they are attractive places in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: As I said earlier, a total of €50.5 million of funding has been approved for 1,525 LEADER projects. Under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP, for disadvantaged areas, a total of €38 million was provided in 2018. That programme will help more than 110,000 individuals and assist over 5,000 local community groups. Under the community service...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The rejuvenation of our towns and villages is a priority for the Government and is a strong feature of the national planning framework, NPF, and the Action Plan for Rural Development. As part of the Government's efforts to rejuvenate towns, I launched a pilot initiative on 11 October 2018 to examine how best to encourage people to take up residence in towns. The town centre living...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is missing the point. The point is a number schemes involving grant aid existed. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government had two schemes, but there was no uptake and, therefore, there was a problem. We picked six towns for the pilot. The €100,000 is not to do up any premises. The €100,000 is to sit down with the local people, chambers of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: That is the whole point. The Deputy gave me the answer in his question.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Resettlement Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The answer is very simple. We are giving these towns funding to allow them to plan their futures. It will not be the local authority or the Department of Rural and Community Development, but the towns. I believe Boyle is in the area the Deputy represents. The people in Boyle are very happy. They welcome the €100,000 pilot scheme because for the first time they will be able to plan...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020. Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced, which was effectively in 2016 when the majority of funding agreements were signed, amounts to €34 million. This comprises: €1.47 million in initial costs incurred by the LEADER local action groups to develop...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Deputy Calleary on his recent appointment. I am delighted to see him opposite me. It is well deserved and it is a great honour that I have the deputy leader of Fianna Fáil as my spokesperson. I am very pleased to have him and welcome him. The revised Estimates for 2018 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: All available allocations will be spent on my capital. I will guarantee the Deputy that. As I said in my reply, almost €35 million in capital was allocated in October and November. The Deputy is quite correct that I have reallocated resources required including the senior alert scheme, libraries and the LIS scheme. I have reallocated money to that already and am confident that my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: What I will guarantee the Deputy is that my capital allocation will be spent for this year. He asked a question. There is funding outstanding to different groups that they will not be able to spend but we have taken that into consideration. My capital budget will be spent this year. Anything that is not spent I have already reallocated in respect of LIS. The Deputy knows how important...