Results 101-120 of 2,126 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (5 Mar 2024)

Joe O'Brien: We have to trust in the local authorities' decision-making processes as well to some extent, but at the same time we look at how they were done and we can learn from this round for future plans. I would point to a couple of things that we have been doing and that are particularly dedicated and pointed at particularly disadvantaged communities, namely the empowering communities programme that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (5 Mar 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. The new iteration of the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, 2024-2028 has a renewed focus on building capacity in community representative structures, establishing new community groups and social enterprises, and empowering communities to lead out on identifying their own needs, through a new dedicated core area of work called...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (5 Mar 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last December, I launched the 2024 Local Enhancement Programme (LEP), with capital funding of €6 million to assist community groups across the country. The Local Enhancement Programme is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most and will provide capital supports essential for the many small...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (28 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. An application window for funding additional staff posts...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (27 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. The programme is administered, on my Department's behalf, by Pobal. The vision of the CSP is to support...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (27 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department of Rural and Community Development's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (21 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: In August 2019, the Department of Rural and Community Development launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The Strategy set a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the coming decade....

Seanad: Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senators McDowell and Boyhan for their work on drafting this Bill and for their opening remarks. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the Derrybrien wind farm. Derrybrien wind farm has had a long and difficult history. It is owned by Gort Windfarms Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the ESB. Gort Windfarms commenced construction of the wind farm in June 2003....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Tús scheme provides work placements for a twelve-month period for those who are fully unemployed and on the live register for a year or more. This initiative helps break the cycle of long-term unemployment by providing a work routine and valuable work experience. My Department is very conscious of the important role that the Tús scheme plays and is committed to supporting the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Data (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last week I led the Irish delegation at the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN CESCR) review which this report related to. At this review I was able to highlight some areas where we have made significant progress since 2014. This included how the Government is working to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU. The Roadmap for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is a whole of Government strategy with the ambitious aim to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive member states in the EU. The Roadmap was published in January 2020 and contains seven high level goals, delivered by 81 unique commitments (originally 69 commitments). Implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Industrial Disputes (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús, and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed. I would like to acknowledge the important role that CE and Tús supervisors play in providing valuable opportunities to participants in supporting the delivery of key services to local communities across the country. It should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (13 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: 269. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the review she ordered on the guidance document that relates to how to facilitate the use of the spaces and facilities for the wider community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6095/24]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (13 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice. The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (13 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice. The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (13 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice. The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: In general on job activation schemes, CE, Tús and RSS but CE and Tús in particular, we have upscaled the numbers in the Department who are working on getting referrals in to sponsor organisations as well. The last two months have seen relatively good statistics around the numbers. Most of last year we were staying steady in the numbers of referrals. That is creeping up in the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The majority have been decided. There are three that are still in the tender process and that is ongoing. There are certainly ones in Galway that I know of and in Meath as well.