Results 5,061-5,080 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Applications (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: On 21 September I announced the provision of €10 million for a Local Improvement Scheme.  This is a nation-wide scheme which supports improvement works on private and non-public roads. My Department wrote to Local Authorities in August to establish the level of demand for an LIS scheme this year. The Local Authorities were advised that any requests for funds would...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Improvement Scheme (27 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and I also thank him for his kind comments. He is quite correct in saying that the local improvement scheme, LIS, is a very important scheme for rural areas. As the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach and I announced the provision of €10 million for a local improvement scheme for 2017 at the National Ploughing Championships last week. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Improvement Scheme (27 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I again thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue for rural areas. He is correct in saying the LIS is very important for people in rural areas. People pay their taxes, including property tax. In some cases these people provide their own water and pay for it themselves, and they are entitled to have a scheme such as this. I am delighted that this scheme was opened this year....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Responsibilities (27 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department has one Minister of State, Sean Kyne T.D., who was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment with responsibility for natural resources, community affairs and digital development. An Order designating the functions within my Department which are to be assigned to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Proposed Legislation (26 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The Occupiers Liability Act 1995 provides significant protection to landowners with regards to recreational users on their land, thereby facilitating access for recreational purposes. In addition, an insurance policy held by the National Trails Office provides indemnity on way marked ways and walks registered with my Department's Walks Scheme, where inspection and approval has been...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (26 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. The closing date for applications was 30 June 2017 and there was a high level of interest in the programme.  The assessment process in respect of the scheme is nearing completion and I hope to be in a position to announce the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Way Marked Ways (26 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: A key feature of the Walks Scheme is that it involves land-holders 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 land-holders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans. A...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (26 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March 2017, with a closing date of 5 May 2017. Over 500 applications were received under the programme and successful projects were announced in May and June, with a total of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2017 capital allocations and corresponding spend to the end of August 2017 for my Department are displayed in the following table. Subhead Title 2017 REV Allocation€’000s Spend to end of August 2017€’000s Dormant Accounts Fund 2,006 1,602 Western Development Commission 1,000 0 National Rural Development Schemes (incl CLAR & Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Data (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development.  Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020,  including both national and EU funding.  The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been produced for each...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: LEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development.  Ireland had an allocation of approximately €400 million for the 2007-2013 LEADER programme, including both national and EU funding.  The 2007-2013 programme was succeeded by a further LEADER programme which covers the period 2014-2020. The 2007-2013 programme was administered by Local Action Groups...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31st March last, with a closing date of 5thMay.  More than 500 applications were received under the programme and a total of just under €7 million was allocated to 231 successful projects. Table 1 shows the allocation of CLÁR funding on a county basis, along with the amount of funds drawn down to date.  It should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authority Funding (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The following tables outline the funding provided to Local Authorities by scheme, and the most up to date expenditure information available in respect of the 2016 Rural Development Programmes.  Responsibility for the administration of these programmes transferred to my Department recently from the Department of Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. My Department is continuing to work...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 206 together. Within the constraints of the prevailing budgetary situation, I am particularly conscious of the need to prioritise funding for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), and for its successor, SICAP 2018-2022, from January next. In 2017, the SICAP programme has a budget of €37.5m,  distributed...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Pobal HP Deprivation index employed for the allocation of funding to areas, through my Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). In 2017, the SICAP programme has a budget of €37.5m, to be distributed across Ireland’s 51 geographic SICAP Lots. The geographic distribution and allocation of resources...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Administration (21 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The Programme was rolled out in April 2015, and will run until 31 December 2017. Its aim is to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-term unemployment through local engagement and partnership between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (20 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 670 and 671 together. Pursuant to the Charities Act 2009 the Charities Regulator is required to be independent in the performance of its functions. It is the policy of the Charities Regulator not to comment to third parties in relation to specific applications for registration or any pre-investigation work because to divulge information to a third party...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services Funding (20 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is generally a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. Notwithstanding this, my Department is providing approximately €20m under the Libraries Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021 to support 17 priority capital projects submitted by local authorities. Funding under the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (20 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. An enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (20 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March 2017 to provide funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Funding under the programme was available this year under four separate Measures: Measure Measure 1: Support for School and Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Play areas Measure...