Results 5,101-5,120 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Western Development Commission Funding (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1720 and 1751 together. The Western Development Commission (WDC) was established on a statutory footing in 1999 under the Western Development Commission Act, 1998.  The main aim of the Commission is to promote, foster and encourage economic and social development in the Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: Table 1 provides details of the funding allocated to each Local Authority and the most up to date expenditure information available in respect of the 2016 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the 2016 CLÁR Programme.  My Department is keeping expenditure on these programmes under constant review to ensure that all money spent is in accordance with the project proposals and in line...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1722 and 1724 together. My officials are currently in the process of finalising the Vote structure and 2017 allocation for my new Department with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Vote will include funding transferring in accordance with the transfer of functions orders, and will include Capital funding for Rural Development...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I have allocated a total of €7 million to projects right across the country under four separate Measures of the CLÁR programme this year.  I currently do not plan to roll out any further schemes under the CLÁR programme in 2017.  However, I am currently in the process of examining the possibility of introducing a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2017 to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: Funding Agreements with Local Action Groups (LAGs) for the delivery of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme were signed in the second half of 2016.  Since then, the LAGs have been working to establish their programmes locally and encourage applications. The Funding Agreement for delivery of the new LEADER 2014-2020 Programme in the Kerry sub-regional area was signed on 8 July 2016, with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: My Department’s Communities Facilities Scheme, which launched on 10 March, has a total allocation of €2 million for 2017.  The Scheme is being administered on behalf of the Department by Local Community Development Committees under the remit of the Local Authorities.  The closing date for receipt of applications was 30 June however the selection process is ongoing....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1728 and 1736 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to investigate a German model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions. As a part of this investigation, my officials, along with officials from the Department of Finance, met with the organisation referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1729, 1733 and 1737 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, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, which could be delivered through the post office network. The Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2017 on the 19 July 2017. The functions which transferred to my Department include the Rural Division from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaelteacht, the Community Division from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Administration (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1731, 1739 and 1740 together. I am currently in the process of examining the possibility of introducing a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2017 to support the maintenance and improvement of non-public roads and laneways, many of which are in rural areas.  In this regard, my Department wrote to relevant Local Authorities recently to establish the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Administration (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I am currently in the process of examining the possibility of introducing a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2017 to support the maintenance and improvement of non-public roads and laneways, many of which are in rural areas.  In this regard, my Department wrote to relevant Local Authorities recently to establish the level of demand for such a scheme and the capacity of the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Brexit Staff (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1734, 1735, and 1755 to 1765, inclusive, together. 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 providing policy advice relevant to its remit as and when required. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Expenditure (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in Ballymahon, Co. Longford, in January 2017.  The costs associated with the launch and promotion of the Action Plan as requested by the Deputy over the year to date is set out in the table below. My officials are currently in the process of finalising the Vote for my new Department with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Data (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: LEADER plays a valuable role in supporting rural development and is an important part of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development.  I am committed to implementing the LEADER programme as effectively as possible. However, I am also conscious that concerns were raised earlier this year by project promoters and Local Action Groups regarding the implementation of the programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 13 April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. The scheme will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 12 months.   The closing date for applications was 30 June 2017 and there was a high level of interest in the programme.  I can confirm that an...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Scheme to Support National Organisations (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I am advised that prior to 2014, no applications were received from the Irish Men’s Sheds Association Ltd. for funding under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association Ltd successfully applied for funding under the 2014-2016 iteration of the Scheme.  The scheme ran from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: Payments issued to the Women’s networks under my Department’s former Community Development Programme (CDP) and Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) for the period 2007 to 2010 are outlined in Appendix 1 and payments for the period 2011 to 2017 under the LCDP are outlined in Appendix 2. During 2010, the then Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs led...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1752 and 1753 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, based on overseas models, which could potentially be delivered, inter alia, through the post office network. My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Expenditure (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: A total of €40 million has been provided in the Estimates process this year for the delivery of LEADER programme. LEADER is a multi-annual programme which runs to 2020.  Following the signing in July 2016 of Funding Agreements with the Local Action Groups which deliver the programme, LEADER has continued to gain momentum this year.   Total expenditure on LEADER in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (11 Sep 2017)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy will appreciate my Department was formally established with the passing of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 2017 before the summer recess.  The Department’s main focus since then has been to co-ordinate its various functions and budget lines  that are transferring to the new Department from other Departments.  My Department is currently...