Results 7,101-7,120 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: Deputy Humphreys is correct. I am pleased to have been able to help disadvantaged areas this time. I could have spent more money in Dublin but for the situation I have outlined. The Deputy is speaking my language. It greatly annoys me that every other Department wants to have responsibility for sport. Funding is scattered through the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of...

Other Questions: Transport Policy (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: We have the water in the west.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12 and 19 together. I am glad to report that €10.2m or almost 40% of the value of recent local sports capital allocations was allocated to projects located in designated disadvantaged areas.   I will supply the Deputy with a list of all of the allocations to projects in disadvantaged areas. There are no plans for another round of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: I hope we can negotiate with the Department of Finance regarding another round of funding under the programme and I ask for the support of all sides in the House in this regard. When I came home from the Olympics, I got into some difficulty when what I was said was misinterpreted. I simply made the point that money spent on sport means the State will save money. It is estimated that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: The Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and I have met, both together and separately, with representatives of the Irish Hotels Federation on several occasions. The Deputy has rightly identified the serious problems facing people in the sector. As he knows, however, it is for the Minister for Finance to make a decision as to whether any of the initiatives to which he referred are included in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: I attended the 13th meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in tourism sectoral format in Armagh on 28 November. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Ms Arlene Foster, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Tourism Ireland's chairman, vice chairman...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: It was a great experience for me to attend my first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in tourism sectoral format. In particular, I was pleasantly surprised at the way in which participants worked so closely together. Both North and South, we are all aware of the importance of tourism to the island as a whole. We spoke about upcoming major events in the sector, including The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: He supported The Gathering.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: The Government has implemented a range of measures to support the tourism and hospitality industry, including hotels. VAT has been reduced to 9% on accommodation and restaurant services and this lower rate will continue throughout 2013. The visa waiver scheme is encouraging visitors from emerging markets to add Ireland to their trips when...

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: Deputy McDonald is wrong about Mr. Noonan. He is not Fine Gael.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: The Government's Medium Term Exchequer Framework 2012-2016 includes provision for significant investment in tourism product development, in recognition of the contribution that capital investment in tourism can make to increasing visitor numbers in the medium term and to sustaining economic recovery. The allocation of funding to specific tourism capital investment...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: This question relates to the funding allocated to Fáilte Ireland to enable it to deliver The Gathering Ireland 2013 initiative. A total of €7 million has been allocated from within the 2013 budget of the Department to support the Gathering.The funding will be utilised in supporting festivals and events that are being staged as part of the Gathering; engaging with...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Agencies (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: This question relates to the budget allocation to Fáilte Ireland. Next year is particularly significant for Irish tourism and Minister Varadkar has allocated a special incremental €7 million from within the Department's overall budget for the Gathering Ireland 2013 initiative. This €7 million is included in Fáilte Ireland’s overall...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourist Accommodation (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: I refer the Deputy to my answer on this topic to Priority Question 4 of today.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 46 together. €30m is available to me to allocate to successful applicants under the 2012 round of the Sports Capital Programme.  I recently announced almost €26m in provisional allocations for local projects under the 2012 SCP and will shortly be announcing a further €4m in provisional allocations in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Budgets (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: The funding allocated to each of the sport subheads in my Department's vote for 2013 is as outlined in the table. 2013 Allocation Subhead Subhead Capital €m Current €m D3 Grants for Sporting Bodies (Sports Capital Programme) 12.5   D4 Grants for provision and renovation of Swimming Pools 5.6   D5 Irish Sports Council   43.153 D6 National Sports...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: There are no plans to allocate Sports Capital Programme funding to clubs who were unsuccessful under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme, though of course it will be open to such clubs to apply under the next round of the programme.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: The question relates to the allocation for the Tourism Marketing Fund in 2013. The overall provision for tourism services in 2013 is approximately €140 million across a diverse range of activities. Within this, the Tourism Marketing Fund has a provision of over €37 million. While this represents a reduction of 5% on the 2012 allocation, it will enable Tourism Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

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 (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Ring: Information on all applications received from County Donegal under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme including the amount of funding sought is set out in the table.    The Department is writing to all unsuccessful local applicants with details of how their applications were assessed.  Given the limited resources it is not possible for me to fund all valid applications. ...