Results 4,461-4,480 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Again.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I will hand over to the expert on broadband, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Fitzmaurice has raised these issues with me previously. Regarding the Tidy Towns competition, I cannot let this opportunity pass without complimenting everybody involved. This year is the 60th anniversary of the Tidy Towns competition, and what that competition does for small towns and villages, as well as big towns and cities is a credit to everyone involved. We do not thank them...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Martin Kenny raised the issue of the €40,000 grant. It is the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The proof that any scheme is working is that there is a major drawdown. That is why I am looking at this pilot scheme. There is no point in bringing in any scheme if it is unworkable. That is why I am looking at this pilot scheme in an...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I accept that we need further funding and I am looking at it. If there are any savings in the Department between now and the end of the year, this is one of the priorities I have. I am keen to introduce a little more funding for the local improvement scheme. To be fair, Deputy Fitzmaurice's county got €370,290 and undertook 56 roads on the Roscommon side.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: There are 27 roads in the Galway area.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Galway got €942,000 for 27 roads.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Ó Cuív has raised a valid point. I have already asked my officials to investigate it. Some local authorities are charging a 12.5% fee for each square metre. In some local authorities, the figure can be €13 per square metre and it can be €14 in others. In my local authority the charge is €20 per square metre. The explanation given at the council...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I am not saying that I am going to go private. What I am saying is that there is no reason the Leader companies could not look at it or why Údarás na Gaeltachta or some other State agency could not implement the scheme. I agree thoroughly with the Deputy. To be fair to the councils, they do an excellent job. That is not where the problem lies. It is not about the quality of...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Deputy Ó Cuív has given me an opportunity and he is right. I am keen to clear the record. I know about Connemara and Mayo. I know how the bigger roads are done. We also have another problem in Mayo in the sense that we have a large number of smaller roads and they may only cost €2,500 or €3,000. However, people qualify for the local improvement scheme and these...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I will take the LIS and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, will take the WDC. The LIS scheme is now open. We need to continue and try to get as much funding as possible. We know there is a major problem in respect of roads. There has been a major increase in the roads programme this year. We need the weather now for local authorities to start getting the work done and to...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy. If the Estimate can be agreed this evening, of course I will come back to appear before the committee to discuss any programme. I have no problem coming in here; in fact I like the committees. I will come back at any time once we know the programmes the members want to discuss. I have enjoyed today's discussion and have no problem coming back. It is important that the...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: I am available and my officials are available. Once the Dáil is in session, I have no problem. I am available. I will come in once the committee gives me some notice and tells me what it wants to discuss.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: That is right.

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: My officials are prepared to come in on any occasion. I am prepared to come in on any issue. The Deputy is correct. It should be approved tonight because we need it for the Dáil tomorrow; I need to get my Estimates done. I have given a commitment. If members want me to come back to discuss programmes B, C and D, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, and I have no problem in coming...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: Once the Dáil is in session, I am prepared to come in.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19th July 2017. Therefore there is no expenditure in this timeframe.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Training (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19th July 2017. There has been no expenditure to date on training on the use of social media.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Security of the Elderly (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: The objective of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to encourage support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to continue 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 equipment,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Administration (24 Apr 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are largely based on the Memorandum governing the scheme which was published in 2002 by the then Department of Environment and Local Government. Eligible roads are non-public roads, often leading to houses and important community amenities such...