Results 5,501-5,520 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The location referred to by the Deputy is not within Killarney National Park. Unfortunately, my Department has no funding available to it to assist the owners with the repair works in this case.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: 184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS 2 application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38000/16]

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: My Department officials were at the coursing and they have footage. This is being investigated. They will be speaking to those involved. Some clubs have broken the laws. Last year, sanctions were issued to two clubs, those in Thurles and Doon. The Doon meeting was eventually cancelled. I gather that other coursing events have been cancelled as well. Deputy Clare Daly is aware...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: I am advised that the recruitment campaign for conservation rangers was advertised by the Public Appointments Service on 11 November 2016, on www.publicjobs.ie, and is open for applications until 1 December. It is anticipated that the first tranche of appointments - up to six in total - will be made from the newly formed panel during the first quarter of 2017. The successful candidates from...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: When the Deputy raised this issue last month, I went back to the Department and said I wanted these jobs advertised. I made sure they were advertised. To be fair to our rangers, we have a shortage of staff. We had over 3 million visitors into this country last year and these rangers have to deal with habitats, protected species and all sorts of work. They need the rangers. On the issue...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The post office network business development group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established at the end of 2014 to examine the potential for new and existing government business and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network, and to identify new business opportunities for the network. The final report of the group was published in January of this year...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The Government does not own the post offices. The network is operated by An Post and there are 1,131 post offices nationwide, 51 of which are operated by An Post. The remainder are run under contract to the company. The two working groups I mentioned are working to try to do exactly what the Deputies want. They are examining ways and means to sustain as many post offices as possible. The...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: Deputy Tóibín is a good chairman of the regional development committee and when An Post representatives appeared before it, they said they hoped to have the basic payment account open in the first quarter of next year. I welcome that because that is vital. It is important that the network has the cards and people will be able to use them. They are also talking about doing deals...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Programme Projects (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a commitment to investigate, amongst other options, the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions. The role of my Department is to work with other Departments and stakeholders to examine the feasibility of this model. I can confirm that my officials have been provided with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy is aware, the post office network is operated directly by An Post, which is a commercial State body. There are 1,131 post offices nationwide, 51 of which are operated directly by An Post, with the rest being run under contract to An Post by postmasters and postmistresses. In the course of a recent appearance before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Recreation Policy (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The Rural Recreation Scheme provides funding for the development and maintenance of recreational infrastructure, which has a positive impact on attracting domestic and overseas visitors to these facilities right across the country. In 2016, my Department provided funding to a variety of organisations who applied for funding for the development, enhancement, maintenance and promotion of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has overall responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post. However, under the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government, my Department has a role in supporting the sustainability of the Post Office network. The postal sector is undergoing significant change both nationally and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CLÁR Programme (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The reopening of CLÁR this year forms part of the Government’s programme to support rural development, which has also recently seen the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a new phase of the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) initiative, and funding for rural recreation infrastructure under the Rural Recreation Scheme. The 2016 CLÁR programme will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Social Enterprise Sector (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The report referred to by the Deputy outlines the results of a poll which was largely based on questions regarding the environment for social enterprises that are following a business model. The social enterprise sector in Ireland covers a wide spectrum of activities, which are delivered by a range of organisations, from local community groups fully supported by the State to companies...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CLÁR Programme (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: I announced the reopening of the CLÁR programme on 6thOctober this year, as part of the Government’s programme to support rural development. CLÁR will provide funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The 2016 CLÁR programme will provide funding for three separate measures:...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The postal sector is undergoing significant change both nationally and internationally, with the increased use of electronic communications leading to a decline in core mail volume for An Post. In recent years, there has also been a decline in Department of Social Protection payments and a reduction in Billpay transactions at post offices. The Government is committed to working with all...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: NAMA Assets Sale (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The process to purchase lands at Glenasmole is almost complete and I expect to make a formal announcement in this regard shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: 310. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a claim for invalidity pension will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied). [36872/16]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: The final report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group, which was published in January of this year, made a number of recommendations to support the future sustainability of post offices. These include recommendations in relation to the renewal of the post office network, the development of a basic payment account, the provision of motor tax services, and the creation of hubs...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (29 Nov 2016)

Michael Ring: My Department administers the Walks Scheme, under which landholders receive modest payments to maintain sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. A total of 39 trails are currently covered by the scheme, and the number of participants receiving payments under the scheme currently stands at 1,912. Payments in 2016 to participants who maintain...