Results 241-260 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I will answer Deputy Ó Cuív's question first. There are legislative criteria relating to the focus on the Dormant Accounts Fund in respect of disadvantaged groups. I cannot recall the specific wording, but it is relatively focused. All the other Departments that get funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund have relationships with community and voluntary groups, and they are...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: That is a lot of the logic of the stability fund and why we were looking for that extra €10 million we got yesterday. That is one of the core reasons for the stability fund. It is a huge problem for the sector. There are also other funds out there the charity sector can tap into. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Harris, about this with regard to his remit. We are willing to...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Missions (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 75. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the number of trade or related missions to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain since 2016 in cases in which at least one official or Minister from his Department attended. [30717/20]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain; his plans to raise these issues as part of membership of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30718/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils in primary schools in the Malahide, Portmarnock and Kinsealy areas; the number of pupils in post-primary schools in the same areas; her plans to expand the number of primary and post-primary places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30651/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reduce class sizes as outlined in the programme for Government; and if there are additional allocations in budget 2021 to progress the reduction of class sizes. [30809/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to invest in special needs assistants as committed to in the programme for Government; and if there have been allocations in budget 2021 to progress this aim. [30810/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the capacity of the NEPS; and if there were additional allocations in budget 2021 to progress same. [30812/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that all primary school children have adequate IT access in order that they can avail of home-based or blended learning should the Covid-19 pandemic require a further closure of schools. [30813/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I can confirm that the person concerned has had his request reviewed and approval has been granted for one further year on the CE scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 272. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to carry out research as to the reason Covid-19 infection rates are higher in poorer areas of the greater Dublin area. [30765/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors who are employed by CE schemes. CE sponsoring authorities are the legal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 to 413, inclusive, together. My Department provides a range of income supports and activation measures for people who become long-term unemployed, and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include Tús and community employment (CE), both of which are positive initiatives that enable participants to make a valuable contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities that will become available.  The CE programme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 781. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of sows in the intensive pig sector here that die prematurely or have to be put down prematurely due to sickness or other causes. [31032/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 782. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason sows are prematurely euthanised; and the percentage for each reason stated. [31033/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 783. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason sows die prematurely; if statistical data is recorded and kept by his Department on these premature deaths; and the measures being put in place to prevent premature death in sows in the intensive system. [31034/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 784. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department plans to take during the lifetime of this Government to reduce the emissions from the intensive pig industry; and if he will provide financial and other supports to assist and enable existing piggeries to convert to an extensive system of pig production in view of the overall policy to reduce CO2...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Communities Facilities Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: My Department is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fundwas intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...