Results 2,201-2,220 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Emergency Accommodation (24 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I take the Deputy's point. We should look at every measure we can to alleviate the difficulties people in homeless accommodation experience. The review of school transport envisages that we would have an integrated system where school transport is connected to the public transport system so that, one way or another, every route in the public system would be available to whoever wants or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Emergency Accommodation (24 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I cannot give that commitment here.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1350 and 1351 together. The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is a whole-of-government strategy with a five-year timeframe which aims to reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU. The Roadmap consists of 81 (originally 69) commitments to achieve seven high level goals across a number...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The North East Inner City (NEIC) Programme aims to make the North East Inner City a safe, attractive and vibrant living and working environment for the community and its families with opportunities for all to lead full lives. The Department of the Taoiseach has oversight of the NEIC Programme. The NEIC Initiative commenced in July 2016, when the Government launched a major initiative to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (23 Jul 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. I understand that the organisation in question is currently in receipt of CSP supports for one manager and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: As I understand it this group is involved in supports for Men's mental health which aligns with the ethos of the Irish Men's Sheds Association. My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, which may be of assistance to the group referred to in the Deputy's question. Since 2018, under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), over 1,300 Men’s Shed...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 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: Offshore Islands (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2687 and 2688 together. 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 to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Sector Pay (18 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme which was designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. The Department provides wage grant funding for JI team leaders and JI participants along with a grant contribution towards the running costs of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Data (18 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: In the EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), disability is approximated according to the concept of global activity limitation, which is defined as a limitation – because of health problems – in carrying out usual activities (for at least the previous 6 months). As reported by Eurostat, the EU- Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2023 data shows that...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (18 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Our charity sector is an important and valued part of Irish society, playing an integral role in the provision of services to our communities. This includes many social enterprises, active across many sectors such as childcare, housing, health, food, tourism, recycling, transportation, and arts and culture. The Charities Amendment Act 2024 (‘the Act’) revises and updates...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Pensions Reform (18 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published in 2019. This is a whole of government strategy led by my Department, which is implemented collaboratively with the sector through the Cross Sector Group on Local and Community Development. This Strategy reaffirms the Government’s...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is not opposing the motion put forward by the Deputies. I welcome the opportunity this morning to discuss the important issue of the carer supports provided by Department of Social Protection. I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this motion. It is a very timely discussion. Next Tuesday, the Government will be announcing a package of measures under budget 2025. As...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Addiction Treatment Services (24 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The aim of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. It also helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. My Department supports the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Welfare Services (24 Sep 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, with funding of circa €50 million allocated every year. The aim of the CSP is to create sustainable jobs for those most distant from the labour market, in particular for those who are long term unemployed and from specific...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Defective Building Materials (24 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The group in question made contact with me and my office has been in contact with them on a number of occasions. The group have been advised to make contact with their local development company in Donegal who receive funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage via Donegal County Council to employ redress support workers across the County.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (24 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is Ireland’s primary social inclusion intervention with an allocation of €47.4 million in 2024. SICAP funding allocations are made based on levels of relative affluence and deprivation in communities, ensuring the programme is targeting disadvantage fairly, to help those individuals in greatest need of the support....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (24 Sep 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (24 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) was established in 2018 with the aim of providing funding for community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland. There have been a number of iterations of the CEP since then. In 2023, the CEP was replaced by the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which has a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Sep 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I also acknowledge the work of the PPNs, which were initially established about ten years ago. They are independent bodies that operate in every local authority area. Their function is to make the connection between local policy development and local community and voluntary environmental bodies as well. My Department funds the PPN office in every local authority area. Because they are...