Results 281-300 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 1541. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of a typical course of antibiotics on a typical pig farm; the illnesses that these medications are designed to either treat or prevent; the comparative figure in percentage terms of antibiotic use within a free range or organic pig farm as opposed to a factory farm; the specific animal welfare interventions that are in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 1542. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he will put in place to support the development of a high-welfare, outdoor-reared pig and poultry sector as set out in the programme for Government; the timeline on such developments; the expected outcomes in terms of animal welfare; the amount in percentage terms that the pig industry contributes to greenhouse...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Feedstuffs (3 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 1543. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plastic fragments are permitted in animal feed; the percentage of plastic that is in animal feed; his plans to introduce regulations to ensure all plastic is removed from animal feed; and his views on the health implications of ingesting plastic for both animals and humans that consume the meat from these animals. [33684/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Protected Disclosures (3 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1576 to 1579, inclusive, together. In January 2020 the Local Government Audit Service (LGAS) carried out an audit of Waterford Area Partnership (WAP) in relation to SICAP, covering the 2018 financial year. Findings highlighted weaknesses in the current control environment. The financial management and governance of the company were identified as requiring...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 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 Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (3 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community organisations such as the one referenced by the Deputy are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. My Department introduced a package of supports for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises in the context of COVID-19, which included a Stability Fundof up to €35m. While this has now closed...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 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 Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (3 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583, 1584 and 1587 together. LEADER forms part of Ireland’s national Rural Development Programme and is co-funded by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current 2014-2020 LEADER programming period concludes in December 2020. Proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-2027 were launched in June 2018 by the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (5 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: My Department currently supports more than 400 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP) to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a manager, where warranted. The CSP co-funding contribution towards employing each...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (5 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 345 together. Under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) my Department provides funding to Local Development Companies as they work locally to tackle poverty and social exclusion. The SICAP funding allocation across Ireland for 2021 is likely to be the same as 2020, the revised estimates will provide final confirmation of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Participation Networks (5 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: My Department will continue to provide direct funding to Public Participation Networks (PPNs) in 2021. This annual funding of €2.45m supports the ongoing development of the network of all 31 PPNs nationally, as well as the work of the national PPN Advisory Group. The Department will also continue to fund and advance a number of important initiatives to promote and support PPNs’...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (5 Nov 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 Health: Covid-19 Tests (5 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 321. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a mechanism to process Covid-19 tests within a matter of hours for family situations in which a relative is close to death and a swift in person visit is crucial on compassionate grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34441/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (10 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 378. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the efforts that will be made and the resourcing provided to support taking rough sleepers off the streets this winter. [34712/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (10 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I met with the Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator on 8 July 2020. I have had a number of subsequent informal meetings with the Chief Executive. A date has not yet been set for the next formal meeting, which I anticipate will take place in the first half of 2021. The Oversight Agreement between the Regulator and my Department states that the Minister and the Chief Executive should...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (10 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (“the Charities Regulator”) was established on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. Responsibility for the oversight of the Regulator transferred to my Department on its establishment in July 2017. The general function of the Regulator is to regulate charitable organisations operating in Ireland, in order to increase public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the publication of the terms of reference of the recently announced independent review of the leaving certificate calculated grades process; the timeline for the commencement of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35560/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (12 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of divestment plans for primary and secondary schools in order to provide more multi- and non-denominational school options for parents; and the progress that has been made in 2020 on same. [35817/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (12 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider incorporating aspects of the yellow flag programme into national education policy. [36019/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (12 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The role of the CE supervisor is to ensure the effective and efficient management and co-ordination of the human, financial and material resources of the CE Scheme and report to the Sponsoring Committee on its implementation. A core aspect of the role is to support and coach CE participants towards gaining the skills, competencies and qualifications in preparation for employment. Projects are...