Results 4,181-4,200 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cross-Border Co-operation (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: As Minister for Rural and Community Development I am a member of the North South Ministerial Council. However, my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has primary responsibility with respect to the North South Ministerial Council relating to Agriculture and Rural Development. The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has been unable to meet since the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: The organisation referred to by the Deputy (Men's Sheds) is a member-based network with associated member bodies throughout the country.  My Department provides funding both to the central organisation and to its individual member bodies under a number of different funding streams. The Men's Sheds movement has been a tremendous success. Since June 2017, the Irish Men's...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: The Revised Estimates in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development sets out gross capital expenditure of €87.5m;  this capital expenditure is supplemented by some €7.7m in respect of capital carried forward from 2017. Whereas the Fiscal Monitor, which reflects an estimate of monthly expenditure, sets capital expenditure to be 62%...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Process (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department currently examines all policy Memoranda being submitted to Government to assess the potential impact of policy proposals on rural development.  My Department is also represented on a number of Interdepartmental groups and ensures that the impact on rural development of proposals being discussed in those groups is appropriately considered.  The Action Plan for Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Each LAG has been given a funding allocation for the duration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy is aware, officials from my Department and the Department of Finance have been working closely together since last year to investigate the feasibility of a new model of community banking for Ireland, including the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks. The project team carried out detailed research into the concept, with a particular focus on the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: RAPID Programme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: Expenditure under the RAPID programme, launched in 2017, was €2m.  Of this total, €763,503 was spent in areas that were designated as RAPID areas under the original programme.  Grants were provided to support projects which were tackling social exclusion and helping to improve the quality of life for residents in disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for the repair of private roads which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. I reintroduced dedicated funding for the scheme in September 2017 after a gap of 8 years.  The scheme had previously been funded by the former Department of the Environment and Local Government, and subsequently by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Policy (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: My Departments mission and focus is to help build vibrant, sustainable communities across this country. The Action Plan for Rural Development and the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland, in conjunction with the recently launched Project Ireland 2040, are the key policy initiatives that set out how we can support urban and rural communities and the ways in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will support enterprise growth and job creation. These measures are delivered across a range of Government Departments and agencies.  The Regional Action Plans for Jobs, which are overseen by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, play a particularly important role in supporting job creation in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: In November 2017 I announced a once-off grant scheme to mark the 60th anniversary of the TidyTowns competition in 2018.  Under the scheme, and based on the TidyTowns categories, TidyTowns Committees in villages were eligible to receive €1,000.  Committees in small towns were eligible to receive €2,000; in large towns €3,000; and in large urban centres...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: I launched the 2018 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme on 1st June. The scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreation infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in rural Ireland. In the last two years, the scheme has funded trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways, and projects that improve access to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to providing €1 billion for a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019-2027. The Fund will be key to achieving strengthened rural economies and communities; one of the national strategic outcomes under the National Planning Framework. This fund which will be overseen by my Department will have a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Expenditure (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a scheme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads. The type of roads covered under the scheme are not under the normal maintenance of the County Councils. However, they provide vital links for people living in rural areas and need to be maintained to enable people living in rural Ireland to access their homes, farming land,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: CLÁR provides funding for small scale capital projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme, which has a budget of €5 million this year, forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development. I announced the 2018 CLÁR scheme on 15th March 2018, with applications invited under the following measures: Measure...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy is aware, my Department administers the Walks Scheme which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland’s walking trails. The scheme currently covers 39 trails, with payments made to approximately 1,900 landholders to maintain those trails. The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development include a commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: I announced the 2018 CLÁR scheme on 15th March 2018 with an allocation of €5 million. My Department received over 400 applications, which are currently in the processes of being assessed, from communities and groups applying for funding for projects under the following measures: Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Play...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: The decision to approve all LEADER projects is taken at a local level by the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver the LEADER programme. Each LAG is representative of its local area and any decision to approve a project must be taken with a majority of non-public sector representatives present. There are also multiple checks and balances in place within the LEADER project selection...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 218 together. As the Deputies are aware, officials from my Department and the Department of Finance have been working closely together since last year to investigate the feasibility of a new model of community banking for Ireland, including the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks. The project team carried out...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Administration (14 Jun 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies (LDS) that have been agreed for each LAG area. The LDS is developed and driven by rural communities, through the Local Action Groups...