Results 3,961-3,980 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: That is not true. With regard to the community enhancement scheme, I have brought that down to the local authorities. I refer to the local community development committees, LCDCs. The Deputy always puts his hands up in the air. He reminds me of an umpire who gets it wrong when the ball goes wide. He does not know where he is; he wants the cameras. I am going to give him the figures....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I love giving the figures because Deputy Ó Cuív hates the figures. He hates the truth. These are not my figures. The Deputy just hates the truth.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: One thousand six hundred and ninety-five people-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: A big issue, which we discussed earlier, is that of broadband. We are having some success in the roll out of broadband, particularly with the announcement last week of interest in competing or tendering for its future development, which is very important. A simple thing that has been a big help to local communities - I do not know if it is a big issue in the Deputy's area, but it is in mine...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The local improvement scheme, LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private and non-public roads. The scheme is currently funded by my Department and administered through the local authorities. Following on from the successful relaunch of the scheme in 2017, I announced details of the 2018 local improvement scheme on 27 February. I allocated an initial amount of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: This scheme has been one of my Department's success stories and I thank the Deputy for his kind comments. There had not been a local improvement scheme for many years. Last year there was a total allocation of €866,000. I am looking to see if the Department has any spare funding because this is a great scheme and is one that works well. The local authorities received funding in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The scheme has worked very well and I will make a quick decision on it. To be fair to local authorities, if they are to receive any funding, it must be soon so that they can do the work between now and the end of the year. Many people at the National Ploughing Championships said they were delighted to see the scheme and were looking for more funding....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The question the Deputy asked related to commitments in the programme for Government. The new Department of Rural and Community Development has overtaken that. That is why, within the Department, other schemes have been set up, particularly in relation to local and community schemes, the community enhancement programme and local community development committees, LCDCs. The point of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: The Deputy has asked a question about a commitment that was given in the programme for Government. When that programme was formed, the particular Department that the Deputy refers to was in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. A new Department was set up a year ago. In that Department-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: That was acknowledged in the reply and I am trying to acknowledge it again. The responsibility for the schemes that were promised that the Deputy is talking about is now in that Department. The community enhancement programme, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and all these programmes are now within my Department and the Deputy would agree it is better to have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 81 together. As Minister with responsibility for rural and community development, my primary focus is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across the country. This can be achieved through the implementation of programmes and initiatives that facilitate economic development through the creation of jobs and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: There is an investment of €44 million in community services programmes in 2018 to support more than 400 organisations. The Department also provides a lot of funding to the libraries programme and I know the Deputy is a supporter of libraries. I want to see libraries being used as community hubs to make sure that people will be able to use them across the country and that is what the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014 to 2020 that has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. Some €220 million has already been allocated to the LEADER sub-regional areas across the country. This allocation has been made for the duration of the programme, rather than on an annual basis, to provide greater flexibility to the local action...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I state again that 35% of available funding, or €3.9 million, has been allocated. I cannot reallocate money until the money there is spent. I will monitor this to see how LEADER programmes do that. The Deputy's question relates to preparation support costs, which amounted to €1.468 million, with administration costs of €19.601 million. Project expenditure is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I will monitor what is going on with the LEADER companies in Donegal. I compliment the Kerry LEADER programme, which is great at initiatives for town and village and outdoor recreation. It is doing great and if that programme can do it, everybody else can do it as well. To date in Donegal, €3.9 million has been allocated, which is 35% of the total. We hope that this year we will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: It is amazing that €19 million has been spent on administration of the LEADER programme while project expenditure only amounts to €6 million. The total programme to date has a spend of €27 million. We made 31 changes to simplify the programme and we must comply with European Union regulation and rules. We looked at the schemes and the programme, including ways to make...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: A Programme for Partnership Government, agreed in May 2016, contains a commitment to task "a co-ordinating unit to work with communities to develop co-operative structures to keep vital local services in place and to retain and develop vibrant local enterprises." This commitment in the programme related to job creation and rural development, and it was planned at the time that the unit and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: I have the two figures. The total of allocations is €164,503,189.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: There are 304 projects to a value of €21.111 million.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Michael Ring: No.