Results 7,061-7,080 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Other Questions: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: It is because there are so many.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme Applications (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: In the ten years this country has had funding for sports, this year was the first that more than 40% of the money was allocated to disadvantaged areas. The invalid applications submitted meant we could not allocate more funding to disadvantaged areas or to Dublin. I would not and did not accept invalid applications. The officials in the Department went through and adjudicated the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme Applications (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: The new forms will make it easier for organisations to submit applications. I reduced the local contribution which must be made in disadvantaged and CLÁR areas. I did everything in my power to target funding to disadvantaged areas, but the criteria had to be met. To be fair to the officials, when they sent out the criteria for the programme they also offered clubs and organisations a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme Applications (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme Applications (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: This question relates to applications under the Sports Capital Programme 2012. The programme prioritises the needs of disadvantaged areas. Of the €31 million allocated under the 2012 programme, 41%, or €12.6 million, was allocated to projects in designated disadvantaged areas. When the 2012 programme was advertised my Department issued a detailed guide to filling out the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Swimming Pool Projects (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: I accept Deputy Catherine Murphy's frustration in the question she asked. It is a long time since these grants were allocated in 2000. Some of the local authorities have approached us because it is taking a long time. Matching funding is difficult to get at present. There are also technical difficulties. At the same time, I have written to the local authorities. It is something I must...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Swimming Pool Projects (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: The local authorities' big problem, the complaint with which they came to me and with which I dealt for some of them last year related to heating pools and making them wheelchair accessible. In that regard, I introduced a scheme last year and we allocated funding to 56 pools. It was for a number of pools throughout the country in financial difficulty because the local authority could not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Swimming Pool Projects (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: Under the current round of the local authority swimming pool programme, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital cost of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. So far, 47 projects have been completed and 11 other projects are at various stages of development. The current round of the programme was closed to new...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: The Gathering Initiatives (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 140, 174 and 780 together. I am pleased to report good progress on the Gathering Ireland 2013 -  Ireland's biggest ever tourism initiative. The overall target is to attract at least 325,000 extra overseas visits to Ireland in 2013. Assuming this target is achieved, it will generate an additional €170 million in revenue for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 164 and 188 together. They relate to visitor numbers from the UK. According to the recently published CSO figures, there were just over 6.5 million overseas visits to Ireland last year representing an increase of 0.2% on 2011 levels. While the number of visits from the higher spending Mainland Europe, North America and long haul Markets all...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Homeless Persons Supports (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 175 together. The street leagues do very valuable work with the homeless, drug and alcohol dependant individuals in rehabilitation, ex-offenders, people who are long-term unemployed with identified learning disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers.  Programmes such as the street leagues can have a very positive impact for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to them for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: The scheduling and timetabling of public transport services is an operational matter for Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the companies and the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (19 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 and 797 together. The Programme for Government includes a commitment that event tourism will be prioritised in order to continue to bring major events to Ireland. The hosting of major sports events can provide a great showcase for Ireland, drive international visitor numbers and the media coverage of sports tourism...

Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: Even Deputy Finian McGrath is laughing at the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Eligibility (12 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: The allocations under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme were announced last December.  The 2012 Sports Capital Programme is now closed and there are no more grants available at this time. I have not made any  decision on the timing of any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme. this will be contingent on the availability of funding.

Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: Profit with a leader's allowance.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Expenditure (7 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: The primary vehicle for the funding of sports clubs is the Sports Capital Programme.  The last round of the programme was launched on 28th March 2012 with the deadline for applications being the 11th May for paper based hard copy applications and 1 June for applications made online.  The Department received 2,170 applications for funding under the 2012 Sports Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Eligibility (7 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: All applications received under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme were first checked to ensure eligibility and then eligible applications were initially assessed against the following criteria (the final 4 criteria only apply to regional and national projects): Selection Criteria Increase in the levels of active participation/ improved standards of sporting performance, especially...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Expenditure (7 Feb 2013)

Michael Ring: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his parliamentary question (number 1326) on this matter on 16 January 2013.