Results 4,641-4,660 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Government has made clear its support for the long-term economic and social development of rural Ireland in Project Ireland 2040 which was launched last week. The National Planning Framework, which is one of the twin strands of Project Ireland 2040, specifically commits to maintaining Ireland’s rural fabric and to reversing rural population decline. It also highlights the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department co-funds a Broadband Officer in each Local Authority to act as a single point of contact for industry in relation to broadband and mobile phone services. My Department has also established two Regional Action Groups to provide a coordinated approach to this work across Local Authorities and to identify and address obstacles to the rollout of telecoms infrastructure. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department has been established to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of coordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government in so far as it impacts on rural Ireland and on communities. The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan contains 276 actions for delivery across a range of Government Departments, State...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will support enterprise growth and job creation in rural areas. These measures will be delivered across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations over the period to 2020. The relevant measures in the Action Plan are aimed at: - growing and attracting enterprises and jobs, - supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (21 Feb 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. €220 million of the available funding has already been allocated to the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The new Public Library Strategy 2018-2022 is being developed my Department together with local authorities and the Local Government Management Agency. The Strategy is expected to focus on three thematic programmes - Reading and Literacy Development, Learning and Information, and Community and Culture. These programmes will seek to build on progress...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Telecommunications Services Provision (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government policy initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. Policy responsibility for the NBP is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. However, my Department is working closely with the Minister’s Department and with other key Departments...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in 2016, with funding of €10 million allocated for that year. An enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme was announced in 2017, with an emphasis on projects that would have a sustainable and visible impact on towns or villages and their environs, and could demonstrate economic impact or potential. In October 2017, I announced the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Disability Support Services Funding (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together. My Department provides funding to the organisation in question under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector, which aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. The current round of funding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Leader is a multi-annual programme covering the period 2014-2020 which is delivered through Local Action Groups in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country.  Funding under LEADER is available for a range of defined themes, which include enterprise development and job creation, social inclusion, and the environment. The Social Inclusion theme of the LEADER Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Seniors Alert Scheme (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Last Friday, 16 February, the Government published Project Ireland 2040 which incorporates the new National Planning Framework and the 10-year National Development Plan (NDP).  The  NDP will underpin the Planning Framework with a programme of capital investment to 2027. My Department provided inputs to the National Planning Framework though its participation on a Cross Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department administers the Walks Scheme which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland’s walking trails. The scheme involves landholders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. The landholders...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Western Development Commission Remit (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Western Development Commission (WDC) was established on a statutory basis in 1999 as part of a response to the severe population decline in the Western Region at that time. The remit of the Commission is to promote the economic and social development of the Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare. The WDC is an important part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Greenways Development (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Policy responsibility for the development of greenways is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, my Department also supports the development of greenways through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. Both Departments are committed to working together to ensure that the impact of the support available for the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Brexit Documents (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department was established on 19 July 2017. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., has the primary responsibility for leading on Brexit negotiations, my Department is contributing on an ongoing basis to discussions, and is providing policy advice relevant to its remit, as and when required. My Department is not specifically preparing a paper or...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Funding for the LIS was limited in recent years due to constraints on the public finances. However, I recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: The provision of defibrillators may be considered eligible for funding under my Department's LEADER Programme, the Communities Facilities Scheme and the RAPID Programme. LEADER funding is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas across Ireland, in line with the Local Development Strategies developed by each LAG. Funding under LEADER is available for a range...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Properties (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Four state bodies fall under the remit of my Department, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority. There are no buildings or dwelling units owned , either by my Department or by any of the above agencies. All properties used by this Department are owned, or leased, by the Office of Public Works on our behalf.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Welfare (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Ring: Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities have responsibility for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas, including the management of dog pounds and shelters and my Department has no involvement in this process. Furthermore, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals, including dogs seized, accepted or detained...