Results 341-360 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (26 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The percentage of placements on Community Employment (CE) available to the Service Support Stream (SSS) was increased from 7% to 10% in October 2018. While this continues to be the case, divisions within my Department now have the discretion to spread the 10% of SSS places across CE schemes within their division. This will allow the Dublin Mid-Leinster division to increase the current SSS...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (26 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 330. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline for the drafting and issuing of a statutory instrument under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 to allow citizenship applicants to sign an affidavit of loyalty under temporary Covid-19 measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39355/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 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...

State Pension Age: Motion [Private Members] (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for an engaging discussion on this important issue. As already said by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the fundamental objective of the Government's policy on State pensions is to ensure that pensions remain affordable, sustainable and retain their value into the future. We want to maintain a fair balance in the system. We must protect current as well as future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 386. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new special classes that will be established in secondary schools in the 2020-21 school year; and the number of these new classes that are ASD special classes. [39744/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Employment Programmes such as Community Employment (CE) are labour market programmes that enable long-term unemployed to progress into employment and/or further education and training. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Employment Programmes such as Community Employment (CE) are labour market programmes that enable the long-term unemployed to progress into employment and/or further education and training. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The Department undertook a series of nationwide consultation workshops with a number of CE scheme sponsoring authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: At the outset I wish to acknowledge the valuable service that CE supervisors provide in running CE schemes delivering local based community services while providing training and development opportunities to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market. As the Deputy will be aware, although the State is not the employer in this instance, Community...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Employment Programmes such as Community Employment (CE) are labour market programmes that enable long-term unemployed to progress into employment and/or further education and training. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) projects are typically sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. Schools are not permitted to sponsor CE schemes and CE participants cannot be employed by or work in schools. This includes the provision of cleaners,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishermen/women who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen/women and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Dec 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: Departmental Schemes (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community facilities such as community halls are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. Some of the supports provided by my Department towards community facilities are outlined below. My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP)supports over 420 community organisations, including community centres. A Support Fund of €1.2m...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government's “Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19” includes the following commitment: “Drawing on the significant volunteer response that has been witnessed since March, a permanent “volunteer reserve corps” will be established in each area, which can be called on by community and voluntary organisations and local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community groups and organisations are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. For example, 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. To date, funding of just under €31m...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Sector (2 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The GAA is an independent, autonomous sporting organisation. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, has no role in commercial arrangements between the GAA and broadcasters. While the Minister, Deputy Martin, would be in favour of the public having as much access to sport as possible on a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Sector (2 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I do not have copies to circulate at the moment but we will do that. I apologise.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Sector (2 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I appreciate the Senator's comments on this matter. I will take the issue around the diaspora in particular to the Minister. It is an area I have worked in and therefore am interested in it. The year 2020 has been very challenging for the sporting bodies, particularly those that rely on mass spectator events for their income. The Government has provided unprecedented support for the GAA...