Results 7,501-7,520 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring
- Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: The No. 1 spot.
- Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: I would be delighted.
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 to 35, inclusive, together. I am embarrassed to admit my reply is the same as that given by the Minister to a previous question. The programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a new procedure for answering oral questions by State agencies. The chief executive of every State funded agency will be required to attend the relevant Oireachtas...
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: When I sat on the opposite side of the House I agreed with the Deputy but the problem-----
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: Now that I am on this side, the problem is that legislation has been put in place giving the Irish Sports Council responsibility in this area. I have been in contact with the council on this matter, however, because I support women's involvement in sport. In 2005, the council established a women in sports programme and â¬14 million has been spent on this programme to date. Yesterday I...
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: We implement policy and provide funding but the council is responsible for dealing with agencies and sporting organisations. I have no direct responsibility under this structure. The chief executive of the council is responsible for sports issues in this country.
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: That is what I inherited.
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: If the questions are directed at me and pertain to my Department, I will reply but they should be directed to the Irish Sports Council if they concern sports issues.
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: That it is not my view but it is the way the legislation was framed.
- Sport and Recreational Development (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: I set out my view of the matter.
- Swimming Pool Projects (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is administered by my Department, grant aid to a maximum of â¬3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in...
- Swimming Pool Projects (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: I hope to complete the current round of projects and that is what we are doing. Local authorities have a major problem raising the matching funds now. The Department is reviewing the cost of the entire programme. Local authorities are looking more at refurbishment and they have said that perhaps a scheme could be introduced in the context of energy costs. The problem is local authorities...
- Swimming Pool Projects (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: I certainly will. The Deputy has made a fair point. I thoroughly agree with her that funding was not disbursed equally throughout the country. Some communities had to fight harder than others to draw down funding from the Department. If the scheme is reopened, I give the Deputy a guarantee that it will be fair and equitable. Every region and disadvantaged area will be considered and will...
- Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: There is no backlog of payments due from the Department to grantees. Payments are made promptly when grantees fulfil the terms and conditions of the sports capital programme. For a variety of reasons it can take grantees several years to draw down allocations. Some of the more common reasons for this include delays in finalising the legalities required to protect the State's investment;...
- Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: Yes, we will. We are currently in the process of writing to grantees and offering them any assistance they need. We do not want to remove the grant from anybody. They were awarded their grant in good faith. There may be legal or planning difficulties and the Department and my officials, particularly in Kerry, are very helpful and ready to offer support. They will support any organisation...
- Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: In fairness, we do not withdraw grants from organisations, but give them every opportunity to draw them down. What happens sometimes is that we write to the organisations and they respond that they cannot withdraw the grant and wish to hand it back to the Department. The Department gives organisations every opportunity to draw down their grants. Over the past number of weeks we have written...
- Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: I want to emphasise that when grantees come looking for that funding, the Department must find the money and that money is allocated in a budget every year. It is not that if the money is not spent, it will be spent on another project. That money will be just there. When it is needed to be drawn down, it is drawn down. It is not that money is left over and can be spent again. We are...
- Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: My officials are drawing up guidelines. There is a proposal in the pipeline to draw down a scheme. We are talking to different agencies and we hope that programme will be announced in the coming weeks. There are plenty of projects available to draw down any funding that is available. I am hoping to sign off on that in coming weeks.
- Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2011)
Michael Ring: The Deputy is quite right. I am very anxious.
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (31 May 2011)
Michael Ring: The matter raised is an operational one for the Irish Sports Council. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.