Results 3,721-3,740 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The pilot scheme to encourage people to return to living in town centres was launched on 11 October 2018. A Steering Group, chaired by my Department, was established earlier this year to examine the issue, and a lot of consideration was given by the Group to the best approach to developing a model which would deliver on the objective of increasing town centre living. The Steering Group...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Administration (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The LEADER programme has made a huge contribution to supporting rural areas and rural communities for many years. As is the case with many EU-funded programmes, certain procedures must be followed to ensure transparency and accountability. However, I am committed to making the application process for LEADER in Ireland as efficient as possible for community groups. My Department engages...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. There was an excellent response to the first call, with nearly 300 applications received. Applications for the Fund are currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Agricultural Shows Funding (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: In December 2017, I announced financial support of €812,000 for Agricultural Shows to be held during 2018, to help alleviate financial difficulties suffered by a number of these shows in recent years, primarily due to adverse weather conditions. This allocation was made in coordination with the Irish Shows Association (ISA) and resulted in approximately 120 shows under the umbrella...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: RAPID Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I launched the new Community Enhancement Programme in May of this year. I originally allocated €4.5 million to the programme. Based on positive feedback from communities around the country I recently allocated an additional €8 million to the programme. Under the original RAPID programme (which closed in 2011), specific geographical areas - known as RAPID areas - were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 61 together. My Department administers the Walks Scheme which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland’s walking trails. The scheme involves private land-holders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Waymarked Ways...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the TidyTowns Competition this year, I announced a grant scheme of €1.4 million at the end of 2017 to mark, in a small way, the efforts of TidyTowns committees all over the country who have given countless hours to make their communities better places in which to live. Over 900 committees availed of the grant. More than 40 different TidyTowns...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Irish Sign Language (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: Lead responsibility for this matter rests with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. I can confirm however, that in terms of implementation of the policy, the network of public libraries is proactive in terms of stocking books and material on Irish Sign Language which is on display on the library catalogue. There are currently 484 sign language books on the catalogue which...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department is at an advanced stage in developing Ireland’s first National Policy on Social Enterprise. The development of the policy is underpinned by a research and consultation exercise which was conducted by my Department in partnership with the Social Finance Foundation. The aim of this research was to better understand the social enterprise sector in Ireland and to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Administration (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: SICAP 2018 - 2022 is a €190m five year national programme that provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion. It is overseen by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and delivered locally by Local Development Companies with expertise in delivering social inclusion interventions. The newly designed SICAP programme is a result of an independent national...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 622 for written answer on 4th December 2018. That reply detailed the allocations for the schemes referred to by the Deputy, and set out the most up to date information on the expenditure position for the schemes in question. As the final processing of payments takes place on a weekly basis, and the information requested needs to be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department has provided a range of supports for Men’s Sheds in 2018. This year I announced a special Men’s Shed Fund under the Community Enhancement Programme. This provided €0.5 million for Men’s Sheds groups to carry out minor capital works or to purchase equipment. Men's Sheds groups were also eligible to apply for funding under the main Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Project Ireland 2040 Funding (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the next ten years, the National Development Plan 2018-2027, and the National Planning Framework which outlines the broader policy principles and priorities in planning for future population...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in Ireland. On 28thMay last, I launched the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department supports Local Community Development Committees who are responsible for the delivery of the community elements of their Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs). These plans, adopted in each local authority area, identify local needs, such as essential community infrastructure, in each area including the north fringe of Dublin city. These facilities are funded from a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities with €55 million allocated to the fund in Budget 2019. 290 applications to the Fund were received by my Department, 125 Category 1...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is responsible for the overall coordination by Government of mitigation planning in the area of climate change and my Department will play its part in supporting the plans, initiatives and targets set out by my colleague, Minister Bruton, in this regard. While my Department does not have a direct role in relation to climate...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Estimates Process (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The Revised Estimates for 2018 in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development sets out gross capital expenditure of €87.5 million. This is supplemented by €7.7 million capital which was carried forward from 2017. As of the 7th December, €73.7 million of my Department's capital allocation has been spent; there remains €21.5 million in capital...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The pilot scheme to encourage people to return to living in town centres was launched on 11thOctober 2018.  A Steering Group, chaired by my Department, was established earlier this year to examine the issue, and a lot of consideration was given by the Group to the best approach to developing a model which would deliver on the objective of increasing town centre living. The Steering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Ring: The report referenced in the Deputy's question refers to an organisation which received funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund and is also supported under the Community Services Programme. Funding has been disallowed under the Dormant Accounts Fund and the recovery process is ongoing, as such it would be inappropriate for me to comment pending the outcome of discussions in...