Results 4,761-4,780 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: This new Department was set up last year. The Government committed in the programme for Government to double the number of walks covered by the walks scheme. Approximately 1,900 farmers are involved in the scheme at present, which I intend to review. We need to review it to see how we can bring more farmers and more walks into it. That is one of my priorities for this year. We have given...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I am going to ensure that more farmers are included in the scheme for the coming year.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of funding in my Department. I am committed to working with stakeholders, particularly local authorities, to provide vital services to communities throughout the State. This involves fully using the funding that is provided. The total amount of capital funding allocated to my Department in 2017 was approximately €77 million. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017 and contains 276 actions for delivery across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland.  One of the key objectives of the Action Plan is to bring high speed broadband to every premises in Ireland through the roll out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual programme covering the period 2014-2020, with a total budget of €250 million over that period.  €220 million of this funding has already been allocated to the Local Action Groups throughout the country which deliver the LEADER programme.  The remaining €30 million is available for schemes which will be delivered at a national level....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: Responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, including the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, transferred to the Department of Rural and Community Development in July 2017. Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are responsible for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas. The Control of Dogs Act 1986 outlines...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The previous Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, or SICAP, ended on 31stDecember 2017, with the next programme rolling out for a 5 year period from 1stJanuary 2018 to 31stDecember 2022.  The new programme, as with the last one, was the subject of a public procurement process conducted by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) under the remit of the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The most recent full-year information available to me on the Dormant Accounts Fund from the National Treasury Management Agency relates to 2016. Over the five year period 2012 to 2016, the gross inflow of monies into the Dormant Accounts Fund totalled some €256 million. Over the same period, outflows from the Fund totalled just over €140 million. The impact of these...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The legislation governing the Dormant Accounts Funds provides a framework for the disbursement of funds for measures targeted at socially, economically and educationally disadvantage people, and people with a disability. The funding is allocated through a three-year Disbursement Scheme, underpinned by annual Action Plans which set out specific programmes to be funded each year.   My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The development of the National Planning Framework (NPF) is led by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.  Since the establishment of my Department in July 2017, my officials have participated on a Cross Departmental Steering Group led by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, to provide inputs to the NPF. In the context of this Steering Group and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Banking Sector (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 76 together. 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 for Ireland, based, for example, on the Kiwibank model in New Zealand. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Local Improvement Scheme 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 expenditure.  However, I was very conscious of the underlying demand for the scheme in rural areas throughout the country....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both contain a commitment to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor.  The concept was proposed in February 2016 by a group involving a number of Chambers of Commerce in the Western region and the American Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. The overarching objective of the Atlantic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: In January 2017, Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development was launched.  The Plan contains over 270 actions to be delivered by a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies to support the economic and social development of rural Ireland.  The Action Plan contains measures across a range of policy areas which will help...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: Depending on the precise details of the proposal, a project such as the one described by the Deputy could be eligible for funding under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme which is administered by my Department. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding on a competitive basis for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in April last year, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. In October 2017, I approved funding of €21.6 million for 281 projects in rural towns and villages under the scheme.  Details of the projects funded are available on my Department’s website at:...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The Revised Estimate for Public Services 2018 provides for gross expenditure of €231.5m, comprising €144m current expenditure and €87.5m capital expenditure in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development. My Department will continue to work with key stakeholders including local authorities, community and voluntary groups, and dedicated agencies to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The 2017 CLÁR programme provided total funding of just under €7 million for 230 projects across four Measures as follows: Measure 1:Support for School and Community Safety Measures Measure 2:Play Areas Measure 3:Targeted Community Infrastructure Measure 4:First Responder Supports I propose to launch a further round of the CLÁR programme in 2018 and I will be considering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: The 2017 Communities Facilities Scheme was launched in March 2017.  The scheme is administered on my Department's behalf by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) under the remit of the Local Authorities. Under the scheme community and voluntary groups can apply for grants for capital projects which benefit the local community.  Applications must...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (16 Jan 2018)

Michael Ring: My Department supports a range of initiatives in the community and voluntary sector and has lead responsibility for developing the relationship between the State and the community and voluntary sector. The Scheme to Support National Organisations which has been in place since 2008 is a key element in the State's support for the role of the sector...