Results 1,981-2,000 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, or SICAP, is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality. SICAP workers have valuable experience and knowledge of supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in their areas. I was happy to secure €10m to continue supports to arrivals from...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The vision of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 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. The CSP contribution per full-time equivalent position is not aligned with the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is an annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a number of funding streams for a wide range of community and voluntary organisations, and I would encourage all interested groups to regularly engage with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Local Development Company (LDC) and Public Participation Network (PPN) in order to ensure they are informed of a range of funding opportunities as they arise. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last December, I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. A key feature of the Local Enhancement Programme is that it is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600, 601, 602 and 609 together. My Department will continue to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities across Ireland, and places consultation and engagement at the centre of how it does that. The Budget 2024 provision of €431 million for my Department provides over €205 million for rural development and over €225...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last December, I was delighted to launch the 2024 Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. A key feature of the Local Enhancement Programme is that it is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dental Services (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address the issue of participation of dentists in the dental treatment services scheme in County Galway. The dental treatment services scheme, DTSS, provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination, including preventative advice, two fillings, emergency...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dental Services (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Minister has made substantial additional investments in oral healthcare services in recent years, but I take the Deputy's point about the lived reality he outlined, especially regarding people with intellectual disabilities trying to negotiate complex administrative systems which are not always very user friendly. I will certainly take that point back to the Minister. I will also ask...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network, are matters for the board and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I appreciate the Deputy's passionate advocacy for the retention of the situation with the post office in Roscommon town. I reiterate that An Post has outlined that its change in business model of the six offices I have mentioned, including Roscommon, will not in any way change the range or extent of the services offered by An Post in those selected locations. The company remains committed...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Department of Education, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the large-scale capital building projects for Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole, and the Clondalkin schools campus. The projects are included in the Department's construction programme which will be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department of Education is investing well in excess of €5 billion over the period 2021-25 to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and over 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools every day. The Department of Education has a strong track record of delivery of school building...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I am happy to do that. I have only updates on two schools in my information here.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Before I address the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport system. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils, travelling on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I hope the situation for those young people in Pallaskenry will be resolved soon. It is clear the Department is engaging with them. I agree on the need for an integrated system and with the point the Deputy made about school buses doing their drop and then doing a return journey without passengers. That is certainly not efficient, in a variety of ways. Other Departments are also...

Report of Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands: Motion (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I thank the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for its report on the progress being made on the SDGs. Achievement of the SDGs is essential if we are to ensure a sustainable future for all. They address the global and local challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change,...

Report of Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands: Motion (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the committee for its leadership on this. I agree with Deputy O'Rourke's point that other committees need to follow suit. It is not really an option for them; they need to do it. It is part of their job. I therefore appeal to all the other committees to do a similar analysis and a similar report and have a debate similar to that which we are having today. Again, I acknowledge the...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: International Protection (1 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I first want to apologise to the House for my delay this morning. There was an unexpected event that I did not plan for, so I apologise to everyone for the delay that has caused. I thank Senator Crowe for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. As the Senator will be aware, the international protection system is currently undergoing a...