Results 4,721-4,740 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (18 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The net capital underspend of €22m in respect of my Department in 2017 arose due to a combination of factors:- underspends on a number of capital programmes (including the Town and Village Regeneration Scheme and the LEADER Programme) and also due to greater than anticipated receipts (Appropriations in Aid) from the European Union following the closure of the earlier LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (18 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2010 set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 set out further requirements that owners of specific breeds of dogs have to follow, namely that such dogs must be muzzled and led, on a sufficiently strong leash or chain not exceeding 2 metres in length, by a competent person...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Data (18 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development include a commitment to investment in the Local Improvement Scheme which supports improvement works on private, non-public roads, to improve access for people who live or work along those roads. There has been very little funding available for this scheme in recent years due to constraints on public...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Seniors Alert Scheme (18 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages support for vulnerable 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The information requested by the Deputy has been collated and a response has has issued from my office today. The table, containing the relevant information, is reproduced for your convenience. - Expenditure  Event/ Campaign/Policy  Company /Person payment relates to Commissioned by Photography  € 522.75 Launch of Libraries Ireland Development Funding...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: CLÁR Programme (17 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Senator Boyhan for raising this issue and for the other issues he has raised regarding rural Ireland. I am glad the Senator has a concern. I appreciate that and the support which he and the others gave me in the Seanad when we discussed rural issues before Christmas. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: CLÁR Programme (17 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I will get the Department to send the Senator the maps. Every local authority area has its map because they have to consider these maps when making their application under the CLÁR programme. The Senator made a valid point. In my area, there are towns and, in particular, villages that are in CLÁR and others that are not in it but should be. I have to be careful how I put it but...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (17 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Programme for a Partnership Government envisaged that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders would be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (17 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently preparing a new 10 year National Capital Investment Plan for the period 2018-2027, which will be published alongside, and in support of, the forthcoming National Planning Framework. The National Investment Plan will align with the strategic objectives to be set out in the National Planning Framework. The objectives which were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Bullying in the Workplace (17 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19 July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. The Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. The key policy in place in this regard is the Dignity at Work Policy. This policy outlines the procedures in place and the steps which...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Regional Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I agree with the Deputies about Wexford. I had not been in Wexford for several years but spent two weeks on holiday there this summer. I felt people could have bought more into Ireland's Ancient East, like the Wild Atlantic Way. I was impressed by my holiday in Wexford. I did many of the tours in the area and spent a few nights in some of the local restaurants along the quays. Wexford is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Regional Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: There are many social problems in Wexford like everywhere else. Wexford, however, has great potential. I have no doubt it will reach its full potential in the years ahead.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Regional Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The deprivation index to which the Deputy is referring measures the relative affluence or disadvantage of areas within the State. It is used by my Department and other Departments and State agencies as an aid to direct funding to where it is most needed. Within the 2016 index, County Wexford was classified as marginally below average, with a score of −4.8. This is the third...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Regional Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I have outlined the position on the SICAP. As I stated, Wexford is getting the funding it is getting based on the deprivation index and the report we get from Pobal. I hope the SICAP will target the disadvantaged areas. As I said earlier to Deputy Ó Cuív, it is important that the funding be targeted at areas that really need it. I acknowledge there is a difficulty regarding...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Road Projects Status (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I can sense the Deputy's frustration. I know that there have been public meetings held about the condition of the road. I also know that the Deputy met the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, during the summer. I introduced the local improvement scheme because of people like the Deputy, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Road Projects Status (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I can again sense the Deputy's frustration. I will personally do as she asks and write a letter to the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross. I will also contact Galway County Council. We did write to it to tell it that the road did not for qualify for funding under the local improvement scheme. To be fair, I introduced the scheme. I facilitated road access to community facilities to try to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Ministerial Responsibilities (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Taoiseach’s decision to establish the Department of Rural and Community Development underlines the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the economic recovery can be felt by every community and that we can create a sustainable future for rural Ireland. In respect of the various areas to which the Deputy's question referred, the Leader 2020 programme provides a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Ministerial Responsibilities (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy knows, the key objective of the Action Plan for Rural Ireland, which we announced last year, was to create jobs in rural Ireland. As the Deputy knows, the CSO figures for the first quarter showed that over 70% of the approximately 135,000 jobs created in Ireland last year were created outside of Dublin. The Deputy asked about other schemes. They include the town and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Road Projects Status (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: An application for funding for the project referred to by the Deputy was submitted to my Department by Galway County Council under the local improvement scheme in September 2017. The local improvement scheme supports improvement works on private, non-public roads to improve access for people who live or work along these roads. I understand the project in question relates to a public road; it...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Greenways Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: Policy responsibility for the development of greenways is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, the Department of Rural and Community Development 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...